Two Things Gonzo Said That I Believe Were Incorrect

[ThomWV]

As I recall Comey testified that during the night of the hospital raid on Ashcroft the spying program had not previously been certified as legal by DOJ. Today however Gonzo repeatedly said that the program has already been certified and all that was happening was it was to be recertified.

The second is that Gonzo repeatedly said that Ashcroft did most of the talking. As I recall Comey told a much different story and spoke of a remarkably lucid Ashcroft pointing out that he was not the person to talk to because Comey was the Attorney General.

Just two more lies ...

[Buzz Clik]

1. Imagine how completely ILLEGAL a program would have to be for Ashcroft to oppose it.

We don't know the half of it.

[napi21]

3. As weird as I think Ashcroft was with his fear of fare breast statues

and silly things like that, I actually think he believed in abiding by the law! Gonzo on the other hand......

[rodeodance]

2. gonzo also said he called a WPost reporter 2 days later to clarify this story

but then told comm. that he personally did not call and he could not recall what his underling said to the reporter. but he did name the reporter.

[WinkyDink]

8. And was this supposed "clarification" ever printed? I think not.

[Duer 157099]

4. Thom, I think both of those were correct

just from my memory. Comey *did* say that Ashcroft was very lucid, down to remembering and discussing the details from the meeting they had previously on the topic -- when I heard Comey testify about that, it made an impression on me because Comey wanted to emphasize it for whatever reason. Perhaps to indicate that Ashcroft had understood the situation very well and was still not going to give the green light -- but that in any case, Comey was the guy in charge at that time so it wasn't even relevent.

Also, it was a recertification of the program. The DOJ had recently gotten new people on the job who were looking closely at it (can't recall the names/details) and this was why there were big question marks for the recert.

[MiniMe]

5. Only 2? I can't name them all, but there were a lot more.

[wiggs]

6. On the first point...today Gonzo may have been referring to a second, highly secret

program that was previously certified by Ashcroft, but Comey's testimony (re-heard today on Hartmann) indicated that literally the morning of the day that Ashcroft fell ill, they together decided that the program could no longer be certified as legal. This is not the domestic spying program the president has acknowledged.

A week later in the hospital with Gonzales Comey Card and others, a very weak Ashcroft strongly objected again to the program and then said his opinion was moot because he was not acting AG.

Gonzales is being uncooperative and deceptive because he is protecting a more secret, more illegal program than the one we know about.

On the second point, Comey's replayed testimony on Hartmann made it seem like Ashcroft did most of the talking about the decision, after Gonzales briefing indicated why they were there. Ashcroft, in no uncertain terms, told Gonzales the reasons why the program is illegal then put the ball back in Comey's court. Gonzales then walked out.

[WinkyDink]

7. Two things? They must = Pre-recess testimony and Post-recess testimony.

[dkofos]

9. Only 2?? Must have early in the proceedings.