House Dems Question Prosecutor's Independence in U.S. Attorney Probe

[L. Coyote]

House Dems Question Prosecutor's Independence in U.S. Attorney Probe
By Zachary Roth - October 3, 2008 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/house_dems_question_prosecutor.php


Democrats are already expressing concern about the independence of the prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Michael Mukasey to look into whether DOJ or White House officials broke the law in firing a group of U.S. attorneys in 2006.

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) said that the fact that the prosecutor -- Nora Dannehy, the acting U.S. attorney in Connecticut -- is a DOJ employee, could allow the department to interfere with her probe.

Sanchez was speaking at a hearing where DOJ's Inspector General, Glenn Fine testified. It was Fine's report (http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/special/s0809a/final.pdf) into the firings, released Monday, that prompted Mukasey to appoint Dannehy.

Fine did not offer a ringing endorsement of Dannehy's independence. ........

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AP: Democrats question independence of prosecutor
By LARRY MARGASAK – 20 hours ago - http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jYuH3mAZbV0pXTznoxmZ2anGhojwD93J5CEO1

[Solly Mack]

1. As well they should

Mukasey is Bush's "good faith" lapdog.

[L. Coyote]

2. Hearing on: the Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters

I wish there were a video link at this hour.
I think the webcast will son be available as a podcast here:

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Hearing on: the Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters
http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_081003.html

Friday, 10/03/2008 - 10:00 AM
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Full Committee

Witness List
Hon. Glenn A. Fine
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice

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Opening Statement of Chairman John Conyers, Jr.

Today we are pleased to welcome the Inspector General of the Department of Justice
Glenn Fine to testify about the U.S. Attorney firings. And let me also recognize two
fine former United States Attorneys who are with us here today – Dan Bogden of
Nevada and John McKay of Washington state.
As we begin, I would like to commend Mr. Fine for his outstanding 8 years of service
as Inspector General. On a series of issues, from National Security Letters, to torture,
to the improper politicization of the Department of Justice, Mr. Fine and his team
have approached their work with the utmost independence and skill. And in doing so,
they have bettered the Department and helped our government live up to its own
ideals.
Today, we will review the Inspector General's findings on the US Attorney firings. As
we consider this matter, let me make three short points.
First, with this detailed Report before us, there can no longer be any dispute that the
firings were improper, that false statements were made to Congress, and that the
Justice Department has been severely harmed as a result. As the Report states – and
I quote: “Political partisan considerations were an important factor in the removal of
several of the U.S. Attorneys.”
The examples are familiar:
• David Iglesias forced from office because New Mexico Republicans complained
that he would not bring voter cases and because he crossed two Members of
Congress.
• Bud Cummins forced out in Arkansas to make a place for Karl Rove’s assistant
Tim Griffin.
• And our investigation has suggested other examples, such as Republican
complaints about fired prosecutor John McKay, which further IG investigation
may corroborate.
The Report makes equally clear that Administration officials made false statements to
this Committee and the Congress: