Former Bush administration lawyer asked to testify before Congress

[FourScore]

Source: The Guardian UK

The Bush administration lawyer who provided a legal basis for the brutal interrogation tactics used by the US military and CIA was called to account today by congressional Democrats.

John Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, was asked to appear before the judiciary committee in the House of Representatives on May 6 to discuss the legal grounds for the harsh treatment of al-Qaida suspects.

"The judiciary committee will look at the legal basis for actions taken before and during the war and whether we need to write stronger laws to prevent a future imperial presidency from steamrolling Congress and the American people," the Democratic congressman who chairs the panel, John Conyers, said.

Yoo previously told Conyers' aides he was reluctant to testify publicly about the legal briefs he wrote for the Bush administration, the congressman said in a letter to his prospective witness...



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/08/usa?gusrc=rss&feed=worldnews

[Ian David]

1. This really should be The Smoking Gun that gets them all sent to The Hague. n/t

[Demeter]

2. We Have So Many Smoking Guns

that it's become a smoke Screen for even more criminality.

[MaineYooper]

3. If you listen closely, you can hear the "executive privilege" letter being typed...

as we speak. No way in hell Bushco lets this guy testify in public without a fight.

[Nickster]

7. He'll never show up to the hearing and Congress will say how disappointed they are that he doesn't

take them seriously. Then they might send a few sternly worded memos. That's about it.

[kestrel91316]

4. He'll refuse. He'll claim "executive privilege", and they will

apologize for inconveniencing him.

[Supersedeas]

5. and Muk Muk Mukasey will refuse to proceed with contempt charges

[kestrel91316]

6. Of course he will. Why would anyone think otherwise?

I hate these people. I await their deaths (hopefully painful and lingering) and will dance on their graves, even if I am old.

[formercia]

10. That's why I refer to Mukasey as 'Gravedigger.'

He buries investigations before they can get traction.

The 'good soldier.'

[truebrit71]

8. I don't think he would be able to claim executive privilege on this matter....

....he was working for the justice department, not the pretzeldent, so this nasty little criminal might have to actually testify...

[formercia]

11. Let him implicate Junior.

That's all they will need at the Hague.

[tanyev]

9. Aww..he told them he was reluctant.

Isn't that what waterboarding is for?

[potone]

12. I wish somebody would explain to me how he got his current job.

Why would the University of California hire a professor who obviously doesn't respect the Constitution? He should not be teaching the next generation of lawyers!

[samsingh]

13. kick