Feinstein claims White House using Patriot Act to oust prosecutors

[sabra]

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=5961037&nav=9qrx

Feinstein claims White House using Patriot Act to oust prosecutors

WASHINGTON Senator Dianne Feinstein is claiming that the White House has taken advantage of the Patriot Act to oust the top prosecutor in coastal Northern California and other federal prosecutors.

The California Democrat complained on the Senate floor that the Bush administration has used a provision of the Patriot Act to remove U-S Attorney Kevin Ryan and other prosecutors and replace them with White House allies.

Feinstein made her assertion at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing while questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales denied Feinstein's claim.

Ryan announced earlier this week that he was resigning as the chief federal prosecutor for the Northern District of California.

[pacalo]

1. My mouth dropped open when I heard that during the hearing.

Because of a provision in the Patriot Act, the boy king can remove U.S. attorneys & replace them with those who will tolerate his lawbreaking.

Feinstein asked Gonzo to provide her with the number of U.S. attorneys who have been ousted; Leahy followed up by demanding it.

[Kagemusha]

4. The difference is, doing it w/o Senate confirmation

and if that didn't happen within 120 days, the courts would appoint someone themselves. Gonzales says that the courts are subject to cronyism and favortism so they can't have that.

...

Yes, that's what he said.

[maddezmom]

2. well at least it's out in the open now

They will use it to spy and control all their enemies like we knew they would. :mad:

[rman]

3. Well, at least W's dictatorship will soon be perfectly legal

Ain't that a relief.

[aquart]

5. Solution: Rescind the Patriot Act. Every vile line of it.

[Benhurst]

6. Amen!

:thumbsup:

[truedelphi]

14. Ditto! Ditto!

[FiveGoodMen]

18. Me, too!

[donkeyotay]

13. When it was first passed they said not to worry that it would never be

used on citizens. A couple weeks later Ashcroft said they were going after "eco"terrorists. They said it'd only be used on terrorists. A little while later we learned that anti-war protestors were threats to homeland security. They said they wouldn't spy on us; they did. They said the never lied; they lied. They said trust us as they tortured...

They said they created reality and we just reacted to it. It's time to turn the tables. Impeach, impeach, impeach.

[pnwmom]

31. But wouldn't Bush just veto that?

[Doctor_J]

7. Just make sure that in Jan 09 the new Dem president cleans house

the same way.

[LynnTheDem]

8. No no no...BUSH HIMSELF swore the Enabling Act would ONLY EVER

be used against terrorists!

Gee, does this mean George W. bUsh lied through his stinky little ass yet AGAIN?!

:wow:

[Vidar]

9. Glad they called him on it.

[anotherdrew]

10. the way to call him on it is to start impeachment proceedings ASAP n/t

[jaksavage]

11. Impeach them all !!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Now.

[rodeodance]

12. Tony Snow laughs when Reporters bring up impearchment reminding

them Pelosi said it off the table!

[Zorra]

15. The "boy who would be Fuhrer" sure has done a lot of damage

to our country. Fuck that smarmy, arrogant POS.

If the US is going to continue to exist as a democracy after 2008, we are going to have to undo most or all of what out the waanabe nazi-boy has done.

[FiveGoodMen]

19. And will the fundies ALLOW us to clean up after him?

[damntexdem]

16. "Claims"?

Hey, the Bushistas have been doing it, and are clearly relying on the secret insertion of language into the Patriot Act.

What is this "claim" b.s.?

[EVDebs]

17. There goes 'due process', huh ? nt

[Jeffersons Ghost]

20. K&R...

[maddezmom]

21. kick

[ckramer]

22. Feinstein claims White House using Patriot Act to oust prosecutors

Senator Dianne Feinstein is claiming that the White House has taken advantage of the Patriot Act to oust the top prosecutor in coastal Northern California and other federal prosecutors.

The California Democrat complained on the Senate floor that the Bush administration has used a provision of the Patriot Act to remove U-S Attorney Kevin Ryan and other prosecutors and replace them with White House allies.

Feinstein made her assertion at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing while questioning Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales denied Feinstein's claim.

Ryan announced earlier this week that he was resigning as the chief federal prosecutor for the Northern District of California.

http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?s=5961037

[davidwparker]

23. To Diane: Now that the netroots, progressive talk, and republicon

crossovers made it possible for you to be back in the majority, why don't you hold more hearings and get to the bottom of it. Insist that C-SPAN cover it live this time.

[AlCzervik]

24. the very same patriot act she voted "aye" on?

[still_one]

25. Every Senator but ONE voted yes on it

and that Senator was Russ Feingold

It is unfortunate he is not running in 2008

What is even more unforunate is some of those who voted for the IWR and patriot act are running for president in 2008, as though their opportunistic votes somehow should be forgotten

[roamer65]

29. God I wish Russ was running for president.

[still_one]

34. The sad thing is those who deserve to be President

either are not running or don't stand a chance

[IndianaGreen]

27. I don't understand, all of these US Attorneys were appointed by Bush

Bush is getting rid of his own people to replace them with loyal hacks. Why? The US Attorney here is a Republican woman, but like most of her colleagues, she is a professional sworn to uphold the law. I worry when professionals get replaced by people whose only loyalty is to the President, rather than the Constitution. What is Bush up to that he needs to can fellow Republicans, and conservative ones at that?

As to your point about Feinstein's vote on PATRIOT, DiFi has been an unapologetic supporter of Bush's power grabs, at least until now. Maybe she smells something rotten is really up.

[Doctor_J]

26. Even "don't stir the pot" Feinstein is turning on Smirky

Who's next - Leiberman?

[roamer65]

30. Jello Biafra had a great nickname for Dianne..."Dragonlady".

It really does fit her.

[Shakespeare]

28. Josh Marshall has been following this closely on TalkingPointsMemo.

It's definitely worth a read. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com

[pnwmom]

32. Feinstein/Leahy/Pryor introduce "Preserving US Atty. Independence Act"

http://feinstein.senate.gov/07releases/r-us-atty0116.htm

Senators Feinstein, Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) last week introduced the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act, which would prevent further circumvention of the Senate's constitutional prerogative to confirm U.S. Attorneys and restore appointment authority to the appropriate District Courts.

SNIP

The following is a transcript of Senator Feinstein's floor speech:


SNIP

How did all of this happen? This is an interesting story. Apparently, when Congress reauthorized the PATRIOT Act last year, a provision was included that modified the statute that determines how long interim appointments are made. The PATRIOT Act Reauthorization changed the law to allow interim appointments to serve indefinitely rather than for a limited 120 days. Prior to the PATRIOT Act Reauthorization and the 1986 law, when a vacancy arose, the court nominated an interim U.S. Attorney until the Senate confirmed a Presidential nominee. The PATRIOT Act Reauthorization in 2006 removed the 120-day limit on that appointment, so now the Attorney General can nominate someone who goes in without any confirmation hearing by this Senate and serve as U.S. Attorney for the remainder of the President's term in office. This is a way, simply stated, of avoiding a Senate confirmation of a U.S. Attorney.

SNIP
I strongly believe we should return this power to district courts to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys. That is why last week, Senator Leahy, the incoming Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the Senator from Arkansas, Senator Pryor, and I filed a bill that would do just that. Our bill simply restores the statute to what it once was and gives the authority to appoint interim U.S. Attorneys back to the district court where the vacancy arises.

[midnight]

33. Not only do I hope they restore the power to district courts to

appoint interim U.S. Attorneys, but they should get rid of that Patriot Act while there at it.