In the on-going controversy over the defamation lawsuit against Rep. Jack Murtha, one of the collateral issues has been whether the Marines that he accused of a massacre would be tried for murder. Today, it appears that there will be no such charges coming out of the killing of roughly two dozen Iraqi citizens in the town of Haditha in November 2005. Continue reading “Bad News for Murtha? No Murder Charges Likely in Haditha case”
Category: Congress
A new report shows that the Bush Administration may have continued its endorsement of tactics viewed as torture in secret despite public claims to the contrary. Continue reading “Justice Department Continued to Endorse Possible Torture in Secret Memo”
For years, some of us have been pointing out repeatedly the fact that the Domestic Surveillance Program implemented by President Bush constituted a federal crime. Indeed, many were horrified when the Democrats decided to extend the program, codifying if only temporarily an unlawful program. Now a former top Bush attorney has admitted that he and others knew it was illegal. Continue reading “Former Bush Administration Official Admits that Parts of Surveillance Program Were Clearly Illegal”
This week, six justices participated in the tradition of the Red Mass. This is a traditional that originates in Europe around 1245 at the start of the judicial year of the Scared Roman Rota, the court of the Holy See. It is a tradition that has long made me uneasy and this year’s homily by Archbishop Timothy Dolan showed why. Continue reading “The Red Mass and the Calling of the Faithful on the Supreme Court”
The testimony below concerns the new controversy of the status of tobacco as a product in the U.S. Continue reading “Testimony: Tobacco and Regulation by Litigation”
To pay for the proposed children health program, the Democrats are turning to a familiar source: cigarettes. Continue reading “Dems Propose 156% Increase in Tobacco Tax”
In what is shaping up to be a very interesting defamation case, a federal judge has ordered Rep. John Murtha to testify in a defamation lawsuit filed against him for commenting on an alleged Iraqi massacre. Continue reading “Murtha Must Testify in Defamation Case”
A recent report indicates that former judge Michael Mukasey’s special security detail cost the taxpayers $10,000 a day and over $28 million despite the fact that many people in the government doubted a serious threat against him from terrorists. Continue reading “AG Nominee Mukasey Cost Taxpayers $28 Million in Security”
Juries often find tapes to be conclusive evidence. They pride themselves on their ability to read the truth from a source that does not spin or package a statement. Thus, the first reaction (as the FBI knows) to the disclosure of a sting is critical. Continue reading “Jefferson Tape: “What a Waste””
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken added her voice and her court to a growing list of judges who have struck down provisions of the Patriot Act. Continue reading “Another Judge Finds Patriot Act Provisions Unconstitutional”
For years, Senator Ted Stevens has been the poster boy of congressional corruption. I have written for years about his very public effort to enrich himself and his family. He now appears to be in serious trouble, but the question is why Alaskan voters allowed him to continue so long after media and columnists raised such issues over and over again. For a prior column on Stevens, click here .
Only a day after the Meyer video, a new video shows Rev. Lennox Yearwood being thrown to the ground and arrested by Capitol Hill police outside of a hearing room. The incident occurred September 10th. For a video of the incident, click here. The video of the incident shows little beyond verbal resistance. It is particularly alarming to see that Capitol Hill police are charging him with assaulting an officer. No such assault appears on the tape. Historically, police has treated any contact as an assault — which is an abuse of this category of offense. Continue reading “Video: Rev. Lennox Yearwood Tackled, Arrested, and Injured on Capitol Hill”
Jusge Michael Mukasey, former chief of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, has been formally nominated by President Bush. Continue reading “Judge Mukasey is the New Bush Nominee for AG”
Published in Roll Call September 13, 2007
Cases Offer Insight On Congressional Investigations
For most of their careers, there were two men in Congress who could not be more different geographically, culturally or politically than Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.). Yet, both men are now making arguments to their respective houses that are virtually identical: Congress has no right to investigate or to punish them for their alleged misconduct outside of Congress. Putting aside the vitriol following their arrests, both men have actually raised some compelling arguments that have been largely ignored by the press. Continue reading “Craig and Jefferson: Congressional Investigations and The Need for Congressional Restraint”
The papers of Craig to withdraw his guilty plea are now public. For the papers, click here As expected, they argue that Craig’s decision (despite many days of consideration) was made without counsel and sufficient thought. This falls under the category of more stupidity and manifest injustice. The officers clearly misled Craig on the strength of the evidence but Craig is now trying to address a self-inflicted wound.