After Democratic senators saved Attorney General Michael Mukasey from having to recognize that waterboarding is torture, the person nominated to serve as his deputy has done the same thing. Of course, Mark Filip today did not testify (as Mukasey did) that he simply did not know what waterboarding is. However, Filip refused to acknowledge that is torture despite ample cases establishing that fact. The question is whether Democrats will again avoid the issue by confirming a nominee who refuses to acknowledge the illegality of a heinous practice. Continue reading “Nominee for Deputy Attorney General Refuses to Recognize Waterboarding as Torture”
Category: Congress
The New York Times is reporting this morning that at least four White House officials, including Alberto Gonzales, discussed the plan to destroy the CIA interrogation tapes. The news deepens the scandal for the White House and makes it much more difficult for Attorney General Michael Mukasey to continue to refuse to appoint a special prosecutor. Continue reading “Four White House Officials — Including Gonzales — Knew of Tape Destruction Plan”
In the ultimate expression of congressional — and possibly cultural — values, two full hearings have been ordered only a day into the renewed controversy over steroid abuse in baseball. This follows numerous hearings in prior years. Members are falling over themselves to get camera time on the issue. However, with the disclosure of an official program of torture ordered by the President, not a single public hearing has been scheduled other than a recent general hearing on waterboarding in the Senate. It appears that steroid abuse is simply more of a pressing issue that detainee abuse for the nation. Continue reading “Torture 0 Baseball 2 — Congress Moves to Deal with Steroid Abuse While Detainee Abuse Languishes”
The White House may have told District Judge Henry H. Kennedy not to “interfere” in the CIA tape controversy, but he appears to have other ideas. Today, he ordered a hearing for Friday on the question. He may be only the first judge to do so as the courts and Congress come to grips with an obvious case of obstruction and spoilation. Continue reading “Federal Judge Orders Hearing on Destroyed CIA Tapes”
The Senate has decided to delay its vote on the surveillance bill and specifically the immunity provision for the telecommunications companies. However, civil libertarians have little reason to celebrate. The telecom lobbyists appear to have the upper hand with some members of the Democratic leadership, which hopes to pass the immunity bill once attention fades in 2008. In an astonishing move, Sen. Diane Feinstein is trying to move the entire matter out of the federal courts and into the secret FISA court. The only value of such a move is to reduce the political fallout and make immunity more likely for the telecom companies. Continue reading “Senate Delays Vote on Surveillance Bill and Telecom Immunity”
The Bush Administration has lost another fight over privilege as it is advancing new claims in refusing information to Congress. U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has ruled that the information is part of the public record and is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act as “agency records.” Continue reading “White House Loses Privilege Fight Over Visitor Logs”
In an extraordinary statement, an employee for the government contractor Jeppensen International Trip Planning ( a Boeing subsidiary) referred to flights taking individuals to other countries as part of the Bush Administration’s “extraordinary rendition” program as “torture flights.” The company director, Bob Overby, reportedly told an August 2006 breakfast of new employees, that these were torture flights but that the flights paid well. Continue reading “Witness: Government Contractor Called Rendition Transfers “Torture Flights””
The House Intelligence Committee will continue to investigate that destruction of the CIA torture tapes despite the demand from the Justice Department to halt any independent inquiry. Continue reading “House Will Continue Its Investigation Despite Demand to Cease by Bush Administration”
The Bush Administration waited to late Friday night to tell a federal judge that it would not release information on its own possible obstruction of justice in his court. Continue reading “Bush Administration Refuses to Turn Over Information to Court on Tape Destruction; Judge Told Not to “Interfere””
A video out of South Korea show legislators fighting for control of the Speaker’s chair. It is an amazing sight. Continue reading “Video: Legislators Literally Fight Over Principle — In South Korea”
After Democrats rescued Mukasey from a showdown on torture and saved his confirmation, they are now reaping the harvest of their work: Mukasey has refused to share any information on the Administration’s investigation of itself. Thus, the man who stated under oath that he did not know what waterboarding was or whether it was torture will now investigate whether evidence of that crime was destroyed. Continue reading “Mukasey Refuses to Share Information with Congress on the Torture Tapes”
Federal trial judge Samuel Kent is facing possible criminal charges and impeachment after accusations of sexual harassment and assault. This week, media reported that he is under investigation by the Justice Department. Continue reading “Federal Judge Sam Kent Under Investigation for Sexual Assault”
The House of Representatives has passed an intelligence bill that would prohibit the use of cruel techniques of interrogations, including waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods. It is a welcomed move by many, but the concern is that is suggests that waterboarding was not unlawful before its passage. In the meantime, there is little real effort in Congress to deal with the President’s ordering of the crime of torture — and the obvious implications of such impeachable crimes. Continue reading “House Passes Bill Prohibiting Cruel Interrogation Practices, Including Waterboarding”
The Republicans were successful in filibustering the energy bill (including needed increases in fuel efficiency standards for cars) over their opposition to increased taxes for oil companies. Continue reading “GOP Filibusters Energy Bill Over Increased Taxes for Oil Companies — Why Can’t Democrats Be More Like Republicans?”
President Bush may prove to be to the law of contempt what President Johnson proved to be to the law of interstate commerce: he could create lasting precedent for the holding of officials in criminal contempt. With calls for contempt and prosecution swirling over the torture of suspects and destruction of CIA tapes, Bush officials have now been formally charged with contempt by Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Continue reading “Senate Judiciary Holds Rove, Bolton in Contempt While House Judiciary Does the Same for Bolton and Miers”