Breaking: Admin Will Not Oppose U.S. Attorney Law Change

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002715.php

Breaking: Admin Will Not Oppose U.S. Attorney Law Change
By Paul Kiel - March 8, 2007, 5:54 PM

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on the meeting senators from the Judiciary Committee had with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this afternoon:

“While we didn’t get any better explanation for these unprecedented firings, two important developments came from this meeting. First, the Attorney General told us the Administration would not oppose our legislation requiring Senate confirmation for all U.S. Attorneys. Second, in one form or another, each of the five Department of Justice witnesses will be made available to us for questioning. The details and venue are still being worked out, but we are hopeful they will cooperate."

Edit to add:

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/08/administration-caves-on-us-attorney-law/

Administration caves on U.S. Attorney law.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other senators met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales this afternoon. According to Schumer, Gonzales said the White House will not oppose reversing the PATRIOT Act provision that allows U.S. Attorneys to be installed without Senate approval:

“While we didn’t get any better explanation for these unprecedented firings, two important developments came from this meeting. First, the Attorney General told us the Administration would not oppose our legislation requiring Senate confirmation for all U.S. Attorneys. Second, in one form or another, each of the five Department of Justice witnesses will be made available to us for questioning. The details and venue are still being worked out, but we are hopeful they will cooperate.”

[CrazyOrangeCat]

1. kick

get his nutz in a vise.:kick:

[peacetalksforall]

2. Who are the five witnesses - the remaining Attornies?

Was this a closed meeting with Gonzales?

Good news.

[terip64]

3. kick and recommend

[Donnachaidh]

4. The REPUBLICANS in the SENATE will FILIBUSTER ANY changes to the Patriot Act

You watch!

Yeah, Bush won't fight it - but The SENATE republicans will. :grr:

[babylonsister]

5. Not all; you might be surprised to learn some are actually angry

at Gonzo over this.

GOP Senator Ensign PISSED at DOJ/Gonzales

GOP Sen: "I Can't Even Tell You How Upset I Am"
By Paul Kiel - March 8, 2007, 11:29 AM

I've stopped counting how many toes the Justice Department stepped on when they purged eight prosecutors last December.

But one set of toes belongs to Sen. John Ensign (R-NV). Not only did the Justice Department go over Ensign's head to fire Nevada's U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden, but they apparently "misled" him as to why they were doing it.

From The Las Vegas Review-Journal:

Ensign was particularly irate over the firing of Bogden, an independent who Ensign picked in 2001 to oversee federal crime prosecutions in Nevada. Bogden, a prosecutor in the Northern Nevada office of the U.S. attorney, was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate in October 2001.

In December, the Justice Department fired Bogden over Ensign's objections. Ensign said last month he was told the dismissal was for "performance reasons."

Justice officials initially told Congress that was the reason. But Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General William Moschella told a House subcommittee "no particular deficiencies" in Bogden's performance existed....

Ensign said Wednesday he was decidedly unhappy.

"What the Justice Department testified yesterday is inconsistent with what they told me," Ensign said. "I can't even tell you how upset I am at the Justice Department."

Asked whether he believed he was misled, Ensign said, "I was not told the same thing that I was at the hearing, let me put it that way."

Ensign said he pressed the topic at a meeting with White House officials Wednesday morning. He added he would be "making further inquiries."

"I am not pleased with the Justice Department at this point," he said. "I told the White House this morning if I could renominate (Bogden) I would."

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002707.php

[Donnachaidh]

7. I hope so -- but I'd put NOTHING past the Senate Republicans

OR Joe Lieberman. :grr:

[babylonsister]

9. I understand totally, but Ensign gave me some hope. nt

[melissinha]

8. damn

Thats right, the majority of the fired were Republicans... dare I say, the "decent sort".....

Its very encouraging... on both counts.... Ensign and no veto.

[LiberalFighter]

14. All the Democrats need to do is give them an example of what could happen

when a Democrat is elected as President.

President nominates a right wing that the Republicans would accept
Senate approves of nomination
President tells appointed U.S. Attorney to step down after 6 to 12 months
President appoints replacement more to their liking

[babylonsister]

15. I'm shocked the rethugs are hanging in with this admin to begin with,

especially those up for reelection in 08. Seems suicidal to me. I know it's not because of their moral compasses.

[rodeodance]

6. a sudden reversal on NSA and now this. looks like they push till someone

stops them.

lets Defund the war-------see what they do!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

11. yep.

just keep poking the bastards with sticks.

more and more sticks.

they're gonna start to really freak . . . this is getting interesting.

[ddeclue]

17. Nope lets defund the White House instead...

Allocate $400k for the President and $200k for the Veep and we've covered the Constitutional requirement... zero them out of the budget... :)

[global1]

10. Was It * Or Rove Or Cheney That Said - Make This Go Away.....

is that why the sudden cooperation? Why the change?

[Dr.Phool]

12. Make Arlen Specter sponsor the legislation.

Eat some crow Arlen.

[w4rma]

13. Now that the damage is done. (nt)

[ddeclue]

16. Gee thanks Alberto for....

for giving me back (partially) my democracy which wasn't yours to take in the first place.


Doug D.