From Raw Story:
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Leahy implied he may hold up confirmation of Gonzales's as-yet-unnamed successor, until the White House cooperates with investigations of the current AG's alleged misconduct.
"I have told the White House there's a lot of information we need to have before a confirmation hearing," Leahy told host Chris Wallace.
Republicans and Democrats had for months criticized Gonzales's alleged attempts to politicize the Justice Department, and some have accused him of giving President Bush poor, improper or illegal advice in areas ranging from the warrantless wiretapping program to the treatment of US-held detainees at Guantanamo Bay. However, Leahy said, the Judiciary Committee has an incomplete picture of Gonzales's performance and guidance because of the administration's refusal to hand over requested documents, citing executive privilege and national security concerns.
"They've operated under a legal document apparently approved by the attorney general that has allowed everything from signing statements to torture to warrantless wiretapping of Americans," Leahy said. "We have to know what was in there so we can ask the next person, what's going on."
Leahy indicated he wouldn't hold up the confirmation of a new attorney general to compel the administration to cooperate in tangentially related areas, such as by allowing the testimony of just-departed White House political guru Karl Rove.
"I'll know when we have enough information to ask the valid questions on both sides," he said, "and then we'll go forward with the confirmation hearing."
2 comments:
Now it's lawyer against lawyer as the games begin. Leahy should play chess like Fitz does as the corners the White House with no way out. Look for the acting AG to be called to testify in the lawyers firing case. Yes he was all so involved.
Go Leahy, Go!
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