Figure accused in GOP eavesdropping sues over probe

[UpInArms]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2004/09/14/figure_accused_in_gop_eavesdropping_sues_over_probe/

WASHINGTON -- A former top Republican Senate staff member accused of spying on his Democratic colleagues is suing Attorney General John Ashcroft, asking a federal judge to halt a criminal investigation into an eavesdropping scandal that brought a new level of bitterness to the fight over judicial nominations.

Manuel Miranda, who in February resigned under pressure from his position as nominations adviser to the Senate majority leader, Bill Frist, Republican of Tennessee, filed the complaint in a District of Columbia federal court Friday. The complaint, which also names the Secret Service's director, W. Ralph Basham, presents 10 arguments for why any law that might be used to prosecute Miranda would either not apply or be unconstitutional.

The complaint also lays out the case from Miranda's point of view, denouncing Democrats for conspiring to block some conservative nominees and criticizing the Senate judiciary chairman, Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, for supporting the probe.

In an interview yesterday, Miranda said he thought the matter would be dropped once he resigned, and called the continuing criminal investigation unjust and politically motivated.

''I came to realize these guys have a continuing interest in discrediting me and will achieve that if they get an indictment, and as you know a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich," he said.

<snip>

An investigation by Senate Sergeant-at-Arms William Pickle determined that Republican staff members infiltrated Democratic Judiciary Committee computer files from 2001 to 2003, copying thousands of memos and passing some on to the media.

...more...

Can anyone tell me why someone with such a contempt for the justice system of this country would ever be involved in the arena where people are nominated for the courts?

[markbark]

1. "as you know a grand jury will indict a ham sandwich"

Yeah, just as a Supreme Court will install one....

Didn't he get the memo that frivolous lawsuits are BAD?

"Wahhhh... I got Borked and now I'm gonna SUE!" :nopity:




--MAB

[randome]

2. Heh.

"Ham sandwich". "William Pickle". Heh.

[WildClarySage]

7. geez, i'm getting hungry...

[Warpy]

3. Let's see, he basically cruised around, found a security flaw

and hacked the opposing party. He thinks leaving his job should be punsihment enough, oh gawd how he's suffered, etc.

Somebody needs to tell this little weasel that he violated several laws and a whole pile of ethics rules. It's high time even a low level flunky of a pubbie got held responsible for his actions by the party of personal responsibility.

It is puzzling that the Asscrock DOJ is pursuing this, though. Are they making an example of him, hoping to let their boss off the hook? Are they punishing him for the unconscionable sin of being caught red hanedd?

Who knows? I doubt he'll see anything beyond a fine and a short probation, followed by a long career as a lobbyist.

[johnfunk]

5. I's love to see Manuel Miranda get indicted and disbarred...

... leaving one less Federalist to subvert the courts.

[DiverDave]

4. HEE-HEE

Those crazy "law and order" republicans!
Deal with it, pal.
You broke the law, now go toss some salad. lol

[NashVegas]

6. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=824514