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Title: Bush Orders FBI-Congress Documents Sealed
Source:
Associated Press
URL Source: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... /05/25/national/w121620D42.DTL
Published: May 25, 2006
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2006-05-25 15:30:25 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 164
Comments: 24
(05-25) 12:23 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) -- President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days. The president directed that no one involved in the investigation have access to the documents under seal and that they remain in the custody of the solicitor general. Bush's move was described as an attempt to reach a cooling off period in a heated confrontation between his administration and leaders of the House and Senate. "This period will provide both parties more time to resolve the issues in a way that ensures that materials relevant to the ongoing criminal investigation are made available to prosecutors in a manner that respects the interests of a coequal branch of government," Bush said. In a statement, Bush said he recognized that Republican and Democratic leaders in the House had "deeply held views" that the search on Rep. William Jefferson's Capitol Hill office violated the Constitution's separation of powers principles. But he stopped short of saying he agreed with them. "Our government has not faced such a dilemma in more than two centuries," the president said. "Yet after days of discussions, it is clear these differences will require more time to be worked out." URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/05/25/national/w121620D42.DTL
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#1. To: Brian S (#0)
Okay, maybe I'm dense, and I'm sure I'm insane, but what is this POS doing involving himself in a criminal investigation? What's the real deal here?
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Above my paid grade but they sure have a good one a "brewing" over this one...
I would think so, Brian, this sealed kettle of fish reeks. I wonder if it's part of some kind of deal to buy off parts of Congress for this immigration issue...or maybe Bush is trying to cover up more intelligence wrong-doing. It stinks.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Translation from "Mayberry Machiavellian" to plain Mafia-ese: "The Senate just passed my 'immigration reform' bill. Y'all got 45 days to do a deal in conference that gives my corporate/CFR handlers everything they want, and then these FBI raids stop, and the documents will be, um, 'misplaced.' Capisci?" ;)
that gd piece of paper is so in the way
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader] So Bush is now revealing that he can step into on-going criminal investigations and have them stopped, at least for a period of time? This looks extremely un- kosher. I guess it's professional courtesy - one crook helping another.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Sí Señor
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader] Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too, Peetie. Me and Fat Vinnie think it's about beaner laundering...
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
If Bush thinks a search was doubtfully constitutional, I think he would have the right to keep the fruits of the search on hold until the legality of the search can be determined.
"Hey, and dat ain't the woist o' wha'ss gonna happen, youknowwhaddamean? We're gettin' into a WAR dis summer before de election---dat's right: goin' to da MATTRESSES in da Middle East again---afta the 45 days are up and de pezzi novanti got all da Messicans dey want...You watch---we're gonna make Iran an offer they can't refuse, den we gonna hit dem...Wha'? Yeah, I know it's gonna be bad for business, but Giorgio, he's a bad Don, and he's got some bad consiglieri..."
Somehow I can't imagine Dear Leader being overly worried about the "constitutionality" of a search. That wouldn't sound like him at all. I'd have to take his temperature.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Take it rectally, with a horse thermometer. ;)
sounds like a convenient loophole or catch, like catch 22, only this is more like catch 1776.
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. – George Washington "If the president made us go to war with Iraq, why doesn't he go over there and fight the war?" Christian May [6th grader] He may not take the Constitution seriously, but he may have to take objections from the leaders of the House seriously, especially when they have constitutional arguments and threaten to take the matter to court.
that's true. if only their same weighty arguments would apply on OUR behalf instead of to shield one of their crooked brethren.
"I woke up in the CRAZY HOUSE."
Why would this 45 day sealing of the documents moot the issue whether they were unlawfully seized?
If it turns out that they were unlawfully seized, but care is taken so that they do not contaminate the investigation, then any prosecution of Jefferson can eventually go forward without serious problems.
Jefferson - if guilty - should do hard time. But I agree with House leaders, the FBI had no business doing this raid of a Congressional office. It sets a bad precedent anyway you look at it.
Couldn't that happen too under a judicial order sealing them? ;) I'm not trying to argue with you, aristeides---just emphasizing my belief and mehitable's that there's a corrupt ulterior motive in this move by Bush. One which has nothing to do with concern over any particular investigation. Just my humble opinion. :)
Judge Hogan could have issued such an order when he signed the original search warrant, but he didn't. I suppose he still could do it in response to Rep. Jefferson's motion seeking the return of the documents. But there's no guarantee that he will. And, in the meantime, time is passing, time during which the materials could contaminate the investigation.
I suppose he still could do it in response to Rep. Jefferson's motion seeking the return of the documents. But there's no guarantee that he will. And, in the meantime, time is passing, time during which the materials could contaminate the investigation. Well, if Hogan refused such a request, he'd be in essence asking for a writ of mandamus from the Circuit Justices above him that he do so, don't you think? ;)
If the case has to go to the D.C. Circuit, I think you're talking about at least a week.
#2. To: mehitable (#1)
Okay, maybe I'm dense, and I'm sure I'm insane, but what is this POS doing involving himself in a criminal investigation?
#3. To: Brian S (#2)
#4. To: Brian S (#0)
#5. To: mehitable (#1)
President Bush stepped into the Justice Department's constitutional confrontation with Congress on Thursday and ordered that documents seized in an FBI raid on a congressman's office be sealed for 45 days.
#6. To: Brian S (#0)
violated the Constitution's separation of powers principles. But he stopped short of saying he agreed with them.
#7. To: aristeides (#4)
#8. To: Peetie Wheatstraw (#5)
Translation from "Mayberry Machiavellian" to plain Mafia-ese: "The Senate just passed my 'immigration reform' bill. Y'all got 45 days to do a deal in conference that gives my corporate/CFR handlers everything they want, and then these FBI raids stop, and the documents will be, um, 'misplaced.' Capisci?" ;)
#9. To: Peetie Wheatstraw (#5)
#10. To: mehitable (#7)
#11. To: mehitable (#9)
What a banna republic, with apologies to all other banna republics.
#12. To: mehitable (#9)
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking too, Peetie. Me and Fat Vinnie think it's about beaner laundering...
#13. To: aristeides (#10)
If Bush thinks a search was doubtfully constitutional, I think he would have the right to keep the fruits of the search on hold until the legality of the search can be determined.
#14. To: mehitable (#13)
Somehow I can't imagine Dear Leader being overly worried about the "constitutionality" of a search. That wouldn't sound like him at all. I'd have to take his temperature.
#15. To: aristeides (#10)
If Bush thinks a search was doubtfully constitutional, I think he would have the right to keep the fruits of the search on hold until the legality of the search can be determined.
#16. To: mehitable (#13)
#17. To: aristeides (#16)
#18. To: aristeides (#16)
he may have to take objections from the leaders of the House seriously, especially when they have constitutional arguments and threaten to take the matter to court.
#19. To: Peetie Wheatstraw (#18)
#20. To: aristeides (#19)
#21. To: aristeides (#19)
If it turns out that they were unlawfully seized, but care is taken so that they do not contaminate the investigation, then any prosecution of Jefferson can eventually go forward without serious problems.
#22. To: Peetie Wheatstraw (#21)
Couldn't that happen too under a judicial order sealing them? ;)
#23. To: aristeides (#22)
Judge Hogan could have issued such an order when he signed the original search warrant, but he didn't.
#24. To: Peetie Wheatstraw (#23)
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