Doesn't Patrick Fitzgerald have a duty to convene a Grand Jury over Cheney's torture admission?

[NNN0LHI]

Seems as if a US Attorney sees and hears someone on TV admitting involvement in a crime as serious as this he would be duty bound to follow up on it.

Wouldn't he be?

Perhaps I am wrong about this but I don't think so.

Talk me down.

Don

[northofdenali]

1. Does he have jurisdiction?

Don, I'm not sure.

But I'd LOVE to have Fitz on this one!!!! AMEN!!!

[NNN0LHI]

2. I am not sure how it works?

But while in New York, he was responsible for drafting an indictment against Osama bin Laden for the attacks on our embassies in Africa.

Don

[northofdenali]

3. In between the appraiser and hanging ornaments tomorrow -

as well as fending off my 6 kitties :rofl: I'll try to do some research and find out. It may be that he was in a District that had people killed during that episode.

Doesn't matter. I think he should be AG, but I don't get everything I want. Except Barack!! (I still cry about election night, and my husband teases me.) We all voted for him at the same time, and it was the most elating experience I've had, voting-wise, in my life!

Let's find out - there's lots of lawyers on DU, maybe one will know?

[madrchsod]

4. he`s in charge of the northern district of illinois

the attorney general of the usa has jurisdiction over washington dc.....needless to say nothing will happen to dickie boy

[last1standing]

5. I don't want anything done till after 1-20-09.

If cheney isn't being investigated he can't be pardoned.

[hootinholler]

6. That's bunk

There is no limitation on pardons that are connected to investigations.

-Hoot

[last1standing]

8. Um...Nice to meet you, too.

So far as I know, it is impossible to pardon someone for a crime if said person has not been accused of that crime. If it were otherwise, presidents like bush* could just grant umbrella pardons to every member of their administrations in order to be free from any sort of prosecution in perpetuity.

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but it would be nice if you could do so politely instead of just spewing comments like "That's bunk". :eyes:

[hootinholler]

9. Well, excuse me

But it's still bunk, baloney, bull, horse hockey, call it what you will. Oh, I didn't just spew a comment 'that's bunk' I also mentioned there is no connection of pardons to investigations. The imagined limitations on the power of pardons around here is rampant, so at the risk of offending you slightly I chose a strong headline.

The pardon clause reads in part: "Power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." - Article 2 Section II

It has not been decided by the courts what 'cases of impeachment' actually means. There is nothing stopping a President from issuing an all inclusive pardon for 'any crime that may have been committed' such a pardon would be perfectly valid, but arguably would not be a shield from state law. The really cool thing is that a pardon removes fifth amendment protection against self incrimination. It is also unclear and untested if a pardon could be issued pre-emptively for a crime about to be committed, or a crime directed to be committed by the President.

So rather than asking me to prove a negative, how about you show me where the power is limited by requiring someone be under investigation?

Try decaf ;)

-Hoot

[last1standing]

10. I guess you are incapable of having a polite discussion.

Some people just lack the basic social skills to handle themselves in public so they have to voice their anti-social views anonymously. Anyway, that's the end of this conversation. Goodbye.

[hootinholler]

11. Yep that's me to a Tee!

Just ask anyone, I go out of my way to insult everyone and spread anonymous antisocialism. In fact that's my only purpose in life.

When someone contradicts me, I throw one of these :eyes: at them and complain about how impolite they are.

-Hoot

[MiniMe]

7. Mukasey would suppress any investigation

Better to wait another month

[ThomWV]

13. Mukasey will be gone in 5 weeks.

[madokie]

14. I'm not sure what all the president and vice can do these next 34 or so days

But if it was me making the decisions I would wait them out rather than force them to do something drastic, they've already killed hundreds of thousands so they're doing something drastic isn't out to the question. I agree with you, what is another month in the whole scheme of things. Considering the nature of the many crimes committed by this traitorous cabal. I've got time and if I don't then it won't matter to me anyway.

[ThomWV]

12. Not unless Cheney happened to be in Chicago when he said it

Fitzgerald does not have jurisdiction to press the charge

[KharmaTrain]

15. Statute Of Limitations...

I view being a Federal Prosecutor like being a professional athlete...you're hired to preform for the team (jurisdiction) for a designated time and move on. While your aggregate record follows, you don't take the old team's specifics...or have any responsibility for their current or future performance. Translation: once he finishes a case, he moves on...it's up to others who now move into that jurisdiction to follow up on.

Fortunately, we don't live in a society of trial by teevee...even with such a blatant admission of illegality. If crashcart is so brazen, then there surely will be other avenues and opportunities to investigate this and get solid evidence that could lead to a future legal proceeding. IMHO, the crimes of this regime are way beyond just the jurisdiction of one prosecutor or even the entire DOJ, but has an international scope as well...war crimes were committed, and, yes, admitted to. Just add it to the record.

Right now, things are in a real limbo as we see both how this regime attempts to slip out of town and sight, and how much they try to revise, stonewall, cover-up or just plain obstruct. Then there's the ability of the Obama administration to start cleaning up all the messes...including rebuilding a totally shattered Justice Department. The messes are so widespread that I am concerned that the focus can't be on the crimes of the past 8 years until the current fires are put out.

That said, I do see a lot of accountability in the future. There are a bunch of ongoing investigation and law suits with more to come...it could be civil courts that lead the way. I'm just grateful that this regime is gone in 33 days.

Cheers...