Jonathan Turley Explains It All: CIA Tapes, 6 Indictable Offenses Against 12 Individuals + 1 pRes.

[orleans]

from his column dec. 10, 2007; appearing in roll call december 11, 2007

"Bad Is Hardly the Word For Destruction of CIA Tapes: Call It Criminal"

There are at least a dozen individuals who should be retaining private counsel in this matter. However, it is still not clear that either Republicans or Democrats truly want an independent investigation. Notably, Democrats have largely called for investigations by the Justice Department, which guarantees that the investigation would move at a glacial pace and remain under the control of the administration. It is obvious at this point that the Justice Department should not conduct an investigation that could threaten high-ranking officials, including the president himself.

We are now at a crossroad in history. On just the admissions made by Hayden, there appear to be at least six indictable offenses against at least a dozen individuals, including the president. That number of offenses and offenders is likely to increase in the coming week, but clearly include obstruction of justice, obstruction of Congress, false statements to Congress, false statements to federal courts, conspiracy and, of course, torture. The question is not the clarity of the crimes, but the will of Congress to finally act and guarantee an independent investigation.

Despite the embarrassment to some Democrats, there is no way to continue to ignore a pattern of criminality that extends to the highest office in his country. These were crimes committed in our name and it is time for the disclosure of the truth — wherever it may lead.

"Jonathan Turley is a law professor at George Washington University and lead defense counsel in pending terrorism cases."

[gateley]

1. Turley feels an independent counsel is needed. Biden has called for just that,

but as mentioned in the above piece, nobody else seems to want to go that route. They further the duplicity by trying to keep it in house.

[troubleinwinter]

4. Turley for AG?

[gateley]

13. I've actually thought of that -- and would like to see it! nt

[noise]

2. The 9/11 coverup is the disease

The alleged destruction of the tapes is a symptom of that disease. The torture program is another symptom of that disease.

IMO, it is disingenuous for Congress to be outraged about symptoms while pretending the disease doesn't exist.

[orleans]

3. turley was on randi's show monday and he said

"this is much much more serious than what started watergate"

oh yeah.

also

"i just find it other worldly that so many people would know about this--including democratic members--and not do anything"

"nothing makes sense about what the democrats have done in the last couple years on torture or electronic surveillance. every time the white house has gotten close to melting down on the issues the democrats have stepped in and saved them...it's breathtaking to believe that these members were told suspects were being tortured in 2002 and spent five years--5 years--sitting by as we all debated who could be criminally charged and never mentioned that they knew people were being tortured by american agents"


"once again, as with harman, as with rockefeller, and potentially as with pelosi herself, the question is not whether you were upset--the question is what you did about it. rockefeller and harman have been saying "look, there's nothing we can do, we can't reveal anything." so what exactly is your function? that would mean if they witnessed the president putting a bullet in someone's head that they would have to stand there quietly? of course that's not the rule of the intelligence committee. if you see a crime occurring, a crime can't be classified--by definition. it cannot fall within the area of legitimate classified data. and so, what you have are all of these democrats who are told of not just the electronic surveillance program (which was unlawful) but now torture and said nothing at the time or over the course of years in which experts came forward and said "yeah, water boarding has been classified as torture since the spanish inquisition." "

[KittyWampus]

15. Turley enjoys making shit up. He has NO FACTS to back up his stories.

[orleans]

18. i guess that explains why olbermann has him on all the time, eh?

[fujiyama]

19. So these are not indictable offenses? Is that what you're trying to say?

Or are you trying to dispute that Dems such as Rockefeller didn't know what was going on?

It's been made pretty clear that several Dems were briefed earlier and just didn't care. It looks like they are complicit in some of these crimes at least to some extent. Also, by taking impeachment off the table early on, Pelosi basically said that she would not enforce the law as required. Some offenses DO call for impeachment and while it can be argued how practical or effective it would be politically, Bush has clearly crossed the line on several occasions. Many Dems are just unwilling to hold this administration accountable. Calling for the DOJ to investigate this is a cover up and a joke.

[Solly Mack]

5. K&R

[Lasher]

6. Same thing with the NSA warrantless surveillance crimes.

But we seem to have forgotten about that already.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Turley's generally okay, but never forget that he pushed hard for ........

...... Clinton to be impeached.

[Time for change]

8. Wow!

I wish that Turley was in Congress.

[orleans]

9. randi said something to the effect that it is too bad turley can't be

appointed special council to start investigations on all this crap

[KittyWampus]

16. He has nothing to back up his stories. Nothing. Stop pretending he does.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

10. K&R n/t

[IDemo]

11. I have to disagree with Turley on one point

"Nothing makes sense about what the democrats have done."

It makes perfect sense for those who are part of the same bankrupt system of corporacratic government to protect each other and maintain the status quo. Moral integrity is no longer on the table.

[orleans]

12. i guess it doesn't make sense if you think they're there to do the right thing

see...that's what i thought. and it didn't make sense. i'm changing my worldview and things are starting to make a lot more sense these days.

[nashville_brook]

14. kick, etc...

[Supersedeas]

17. pattern of criminality -- tell it like it is John.