Comments on: Senate Judiciary Holds Rove, Bolton in Contempt While House Judiciary Does the Same for Bolton and Miers http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/ Res ipsa loquitur ("The thing itself speaks") Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:36:05 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Federal Court Rules Against Bush Administration on Subpoenas « JONATHAN TURLEY http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-19293 Federal Court Rules Against Bush Administration on Subpoenas « JONATHAN TURLEY Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:41:59 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-19293 [...] Meirs and Bolton were previously held in contempt in the Senate, click here. [...] [...] Meirs and Bolton were previously held in contempt in the Senate, click here. [...]

]]> By: White House Loses Privilege Fight Over Visitor Logs « JONATHAN TURLEY http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-4115 White House Loses Privilege Fight Over Visitor Logs « JONATHAN TURLEY Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:30:05 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-4115 [...] Just recently, both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees voted to issue contempt sanctions again current and former Bush officials for refusing to testify or supply information on the scandal over the fired U.S. attorneys. For that story, click here [...] [...] Just recently, both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees voted to issue contempt sanctions again current and former Bush officials for refusing to testify or supply information on the scandal over the fired U.S. attorneys. For that story, click here [...]

]]> By: Gene http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3686 Gene Fri, 14 Dec 2007 01:27:56 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3686 Mr. Turley: After seeing how Bush and Cheney have abused their authority and invoked executive privilege and used pardons and commutations to obstruct justice for all of their scandals, they must be held accountable. On the issue of executive privilege, I think a "rocket docket" should be legislated to quickly decide executive privilege claims by an en banc panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Bush administration is claiming executive privilege as to anyone in his administration who has spoken to Bush, then they stonewall and obstruct until the clock runs out or their pursuers tire of the chase. This has greatly diminished the public trust in our government. This is no different than when Richard Nixon stated, "When the President does it, it isn't against the law." No one is above the law, including the President. As to this commutation and now probable pardon of Scooter Libby after he gave up his appeal, legilsation should also be passed precluding a President from being able to grant a pardon or commutation to anyone that he has an actual or potential conflict of interest with. Judges are required in many jurisdicitons to recuse themselves when they potentially embrace such a conflict. (I am equally angry at Clinton's abuse of this with his brother and Marc Rich. The far-right used that as justifying Bush's action.) Also, now that Scooter Libby has no appeal, he can't invoke the 5th Amendment if Congress calls him to testify? What about Fitzgerald? Isn't he now free to talk? Gene Mr. Turley:

After seeing how Bush and Cheney have abused their authority and invoked executive privilege and used pardons and commutations
to obstruct justice for all of their scandals, they must be held accountable.

On the issue of executive privilege, I think a “rocket docket” should be legislated to quickly decide executive privilege claims by an en banc panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Bush administration is claiming executive privilege as to anyone in his administration who has spoken to Bush, then they stonewall and obstruct until the clock runs out or their pursuers tire of the chase. This has greatly diminished the public trust in our government. This is no different than when Richard Nixon stated, “When the President does it, it isn’t against the law.” No one is above the law, including the President.

As to this commutation and now probable pardon of Scooter Libby after he gave up his appeal, legilsation should also be passed precluding a President from being able to grant a pardon or commutation to anyone that he has an actual or potential conflict of interest with. Judges are required in many jurisdicitons to recuse themselves when they potentially embrace such a conflict. (I am equally angry at Clinton’s abuse of this with his brother and Marc Rich. The far-right used that as justifying Bush’s action.)

Also, now that Scooter Libby has no appeal, he can’t invoke the 5th Amendment if Congress calls him to testify? What about Fitzgerald? Isn’t he now free to talk?

Gene

]]> By: David Trotman-Wilkins http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3648 David Trotman-Wilkins Thu, 13 Dec 2007 20:18:57 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3648 Dear Mr. Turley I have a question about the election of Vice-President of the United States. Since the passage of the twelth amendment, which separated the nomination process for president and Vice President; how can the political parties nominate a vice presidential candidate from the convention without the candidate placing him/her self on the ballot in the various states, ahead of time? Does the candidate have to file petitions in the various states, during the primary season? Does the VP candidate have to follow the constitutional rules for nomination and why are the candidates not listed separately? The constitution origianlly allowed having a president of one party and a vice president of another. Could I place myself as a VP candidate on the ballots in the 50 states and challenge the party nominating process of those vp candidates selected at the convention? Thank you in advance for your reply. Dear Mr. Turley I have a question about the election of Vice-President of the United States. Since the passage of the twelth amendment, which separated the nomination process for president and Vice President; how can the political parties nominate a vice presidential candidate from the convention without the candidate placing him/her self on the ballot in the various states, ahead of time? Does the candidate have to file petitions in the various states, during the primary season? Does the VP candidate have to follow the constitutional rules for nomination and why are the candidates not listed separately? The constitution origianlly allowed having a president of one party and a vice president of another. Could I place myself as a VP candidate on the ballots in the 50 states and challenge the party nominating process of those vp candidates selected at the convention? Thank you in advance for your reply.

]]> By: deeply worried http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3645 deeply worried Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:51:17 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/2007/12/13/senate-judiciary-holds-rove-bolton-in-contempt-while-house-judiciary-does-the-same-for-bolton-and-miers/#comment-3645 Meanwhile the two houses are railing at each other! The politics are becoming chaotic! Usually such tumult presages settling into a new stable pattern of behavior. We can only hope it is one that will be more protectful of the dignity of the Congress and the Constitution. Meanwhile the two houses are railing at each other! The politics are becoming chaotic!

Usually such tumult presages settling into a new stable pattern of behavior.

We can only hope it is one that will be more protectful of the dignity of the Congress and the Constitution.

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