In the endless saga of Sen. Craig, his attorneys are now prepared to file as early as this week for the withdrawal of his plea. Continue reading “Craig Reportedly Ready to File to Withdraw Plea”
Category: Congress
Below is a prior column on the Jefferson case from Roll Call. Continue reading “Jefferson Deserves Presumption of Innocence”
Rep. William Jefferson has filed motions challenging his criminal complaint and the venue of his trial. The motions are actually quite strong on their face, particularly the notion that the government failed to allege a connection between the alleged bribe and some official act. Continue reading “Jefferson Challenges Criminal Complaint in Alexandria”
Various judges have ruled against the Bush Administration’s various national security programs as well as provisions of the Patriot Act. Continue reading “Judge Strikes Down Parts of Patriot Act”
Sen. Craig’s attorney has tried and failed to get the Senate to drop its planned investigation into his guilty plea. Stan Brand has a good point that this is not the type of matter that has been historically investigated. Disorderly conduct is an extremely minor offense and the matter does not relate to his senatorial duties. However, the Senate rules are quite broad and reserves the right to investigate any “improper conduct which may reflect upon the Senate.” Historically, however, this matter would not be subject to such review. There are few cases of actual expulsion or even censure in its history. Senator William Blount of Tennessee was expelled on the basis of evidence that he incited native americans to go to war against the United States. Even Joseph McCarthy was only censured after his reign of terror against accused communists.
Sen. Craig’s attorneys have challenged the basis for a Senate investigation into his conduct, arguing that such minor crimes are historically not the subject to such congressional action. This is largely true. Continue reading “Craig’s Attorneys Challenge Senate Investigation”
It would be the world’s greatest irony. NBC is reporting that Sen. Craig is now reconsidering his decision to resign. Continue reading “NBC Reports that Craig is Reconsidering Decision to Resign”
Exxon Corporation is still fighting damages for fishermen and others harmed by its infamous oil spill from the Exxon Valdez in 1989. Continue reading “Justice Delayed: Exxon Still Fighting Damages for Exxon Valdez Spill”
Reports today indicate that Sen. Craig has decided to resign, click here The question remains whether, in light of recent scandals and indictments of other members, this is a consistent result. Continue reading “Report: Craig to Resign”
Here is the audio tape of the Craig interview with police after his arrest, click here
The tape is a striking example of the pressures that are often put on people directly after their arrests to induce confessions and pleas.
I just finished an interview for Good Morning America for Friday on whether Craig has a case for entrapment or denial of the offense. I do believe that Craig should have fought this charge and would have been successful. Continue reading “Craig and Entrapment”
Here is the transcript of the interview of Senator Craig with police after his arrest. Continue reading “Transcript of Craig Post-Arrest Dialogue with Police”
The health problems of Chief Justice Roberts raises a long-standing problem on the Court, addressed in this prior column.
Orignially published in August 2005
It came as something of a shock at the beginning of the summer when Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist announced that he would not be resigning from the Supreme Court. He is suffering from thyroid cancer, has had a tracheotomy to help him breathe and will be 81 years old at the start of the new court term. The smart money was on retirement.
But Supreme Court justices answer only to themselves and God when it comes to stepping down from the bench. Once Congress hath joined a nominee and his office, only death or retirement can separate them. Continue reading “Through Addictions to Dementia: Supreme Court Justices Have Refused to Step Down — The Need for Reforming the Supreme Court”
Sen. Craig’s suggestion that he is considering re-visiting his plea with the assistance of counsel is not without merit — it is only fatally delayed. There is much to challenge in this arrest. The officer was relying on highly interpretive conclusions about his actions. Had he challenged the arrest, he could have argued that the evidence did not establish the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
Continue reading “Legal Challenge to Craig Charges is Valid — But Likely Too Late”
Senator Craig’s bathroom scandal brings back memories of his prior attack on Bill Clinton as a “nasty” “bad” “naughty boy.” Even for those who supported impeachment it was a weird moment.
For the video, click here