Republicans are trying to delay the time when a Democrat takes over DOJ & starts reviewing Bushco

[kpete]

Emptywheel to Senator Whitehouse: We Only Have 7 Weeks to Indict Bush
By: emptywheel Thursday January 22, 2009 10:36 am

Between that appeal and Arlen "Scottish Haggis" Specter's highly unusual one-week hold on Eric Holder's nomination yesterday, it sure does look like my theory--that Republicans are trying to delay the time when a Democrat takes over DOJ and starts reviewing Bush Administration actions and considering prosecutions.

In particular, I believe, they are delaying Holder's nomination to shorten the time between the day Holder takes over and the day the statute of limitations on violations of FISA Bush committed on March 11, 2004 start to expire--that is, March 11, 2009, just seven weeks away.

At yesterday's Progressive Media Summit, I had an opportunity to remind Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of that timeline. I reminded him, too, that Bush seems intent on delaying the time when an Article III judge assesses the evidence in the al-Haramain document, which probably proves Bush broke the law.

I don't know whether Senate Dems can do anything to short-circuit Republican efforts to run out the clock.

VIDEO:
Emptywheel to Senator Whitehouse: We Only Have 7 Weeks to Indict Bush
By: emptywheel Thursday January 22, 2009 10:36 am
http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/22/emptywheel-to-senator-whitehouse-we-only-have-7-weeks-to-indict-bush/

[Blaze Diem]

1. Why Coleman is delaying MN a Senate vote..by holding up Franken.

Hoping to cut a deal on torture prosecution by holding up the right of the people to be heard. Once Again.
How they've always done business in DC.
Power brokering our Constitutional rights as States & citizens.

[grannie4peace]

2. gives dick time to hide evidence!!

[dflprincess]

3. Thom Hartmann was speculating that they'll try and stall until

the statute of limitations is up.

I think Holder should tell Specter he'll promise not to prosecute Specter as an accessory after the fact to JFK's murder if Senator Magic Bullet backs down. But no deals for Bushco.

I hope Reid is paying attention, he may want to be ready to dust off the nuclear option because it's pretty clear the Republicans are not going to cooperate.

[grannie4peace]

5. how long is the statute of limitations?

[dflprincess]

7. I was listening while working so Hartmann was not getting my full attention

but, at least for what he was talking about today, it sounded like the clock for this started running when Gonzo and whoever was with him went to see Ashcroft in the hospital to try and get him to okay spying. I gathered that there isn't a lot of time left to charge someone.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. I personally doubt that the timing can be as cast in concrete as that.

Plus, I look at this as the acts of people who were trying to weaken the country from within and erode the liberties of the citizens, in other words TREASON. What's the statute on that? Also, it was such a concerted effort that I think RICO could come into play.

I also think the program was probably constantly expanded and improved, thereby widening the circle of crimes and their individual onsets. Additionally, every time they used the fruit of their crime in a nefarious manner, that would be another NEW crime. So, I think the Republicans believing that they have a seven week count down clock is a false hope.

[FatDave]

8. Isn't it usually 7 years?

:shrug:

[mmonk]

4. Yes, that's correct. Those that say be patient and wait need to know.

[bluesmail]

6. I hope in my heart they don't get to Dubai soon. n/t

[Laelth]

9. Completely reasonable theory. k&r n/t

:dem:

-Laelth