The Little Bomblet for Turdblossom in the New Rules (YES!!)

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
As he described earlier, John Conyers stuck something in the new rules that will allow the House Judiciary Committee to continue its lawsuit against Harriet Miers and Bolten to get their testimony in the US Attorney scandal.

One nice goody buried in the new House Rules package: the House will authorize the Judiciary Committee to continue its lawsuit seeking to enforce its subpoenas and contempt of Congress citations against Bush White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers.

Technically, Miers and Bolten were in contempt of the 110th Congress. But with its adjournment, the 110th Congress no longer exists, so there's nothing to be in contempt of, nor any plaintiff in the lawsuit. The courts had indicated that this might give them cause to moot the whole case and drop it. But the Rules package specifically authorizes the Judiciary Committee in the new 111th Congress to continue the suit. And we had earlier word that the 111th was considering reissuing those subpoenas.

There's one more juicy nugget in the rules package that just passed. Regarding the Judiciary Committe's power to continue its suit against Miers and Bolten.

From Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's fact sheet (PDF):

In addition, it authorizes the Judiciary Committee and General Counsel to add as a party to the lawsuit any individual subpoenaed by the Committee in the 110th Congress who failed to comply.

Who else was subpoenaed by the Judiciary Committee in the 110th Congress and failed to comply?

Karl Rove.

And Michael Mukasey.

Nice going, Chairman Conyers and Speaker Pelosi.

In other words, Rove--and Michael Mukasey, who refused to turn over documents particularly relating to the Siegelman prosecution--is about to get added to HJC's lawsuit forcing him to testify before HJC in the 111th Congress.
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/06/the-little-bomblet-for-turdblossom-in-the-new-rules/


Finally! Something to cheer about. Now if they will only USE this bomblet!

[Doug.Goodall]

1. The Republicans are about to find out what it is like to not be the ruling party in Washington

Eight years of pay backs are in the pipeline, and on January 20 the dump valve will be opened.

[RC]

2. You have a good imagination.

I'll believe it when it when Miers and Rove are hauled in.

[radfringe]

3. seeking to enforce its subpoenas and contempt

Great - but will Conyers et al exercise the power to enforce subpoenas/contempt charges?

If yesterday's opening of Congress is any indication - it's going to be more of the same crap, and the WHAAAAAAAmbulance is on stand-by ..."whaaa we don't have the votes...."

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. What a joke...

Conyers, Pelosi & Reid are miserable failures, just like the chimp...

Great, we get to hear them whine about ignored subpoenas, and read their 'strongly worded letters', for two more fucking years... :eyes:

Fuck those spineless jellocrats...

[liberalla]

5. Rec #5

I'm thrilled with the sweet bomblet inclusion -- and just hope they exercise it.

[tom_paine]

6. This is good news, and I want to cheer, but not until I SEE SOME ACTION.

Until then, because of the Democratic Leaderships hideous, toadyinging, and frightened performance this past 8 years, really 28 years, I cannot get excited about that which, until some REAL ACTIONS shows otherwise, is likely another faux opposition ploy and that the Cowardly Congressional Democrats are as likely to go to the mat in forcing Bushie Henchmen to tesitify to their crimes as the German Social Democrats were likely to go to the mat in forcing Nazi Henchmen to tesitify to their crimes in 1933.

I wish I didn't have to think this way, but after observing the behavior of the Ruling Elite of both parties these last 8 and really 28 years, it is the height of foolishness to accept anything less than ACTION without high skepticism of a disgraceful track record.

[KharmaTrain]

7. The Real Election Dividend...

Watching the rules debate yesterday was a guilty pleasure. It was a joy to see Drier and Pence and Boner all screaming about being shut out and knowing it was the case. The game in the House has changed...and soon the Senate will follow.

One interesting note of the subpoenas expiring with the end of the last Congress, it means there's nothing boooshie can pardon the three on...at least not pre-emptively. I wouldn't put it past the fukstick to now move on some kind of blanket pardon that will end up in the courts...thus stonewalling the day of reckoning a little longer, but I am confident that such a pardon won't stand up.

The noose is going to tighten around the Rover...he wove too many webs and one is sure to get him. If it isn't this matter, it will be the Siegelman case.

[malaise]

10. That was the best session I've seen in the House

in some time. CSpan is showing a bit from Boehner right now on WJ.

[malaise]

8. Excellent

This is huge.

[ThomWV]

9. I would like to believe that it wouldn't be in there if it wasn't going to be used. We'll see.

[bertman]

11. I hear you Thom, but that's what we thought when they ISSUED the subpoenas.

Call me moderately hopeful, but open to disappointment.

[wryter2000]

12. Yeehah!

And * won't be around to pardon their asses.

Go, Conyers!