Bush Orders WH Lawyers To Draw Up Documents To Prevent Investigation Into Torture Tape Destruction

[kpete]

Bush may claim privilege in CIA case
January 4, 2008 - 6:56am
President orders White House lawyers to draw up documents

President George W. Bush Thursday ordered White House lawyers to use claims of executive privilege to prevent senior White House aides from cooperating with the Justice Department's criminal investigation into destruction of videotapes that showed CIA interrogators torturing terrorism suspects.

White House sources tell Capitol Hill Blue that the claims of executive privilege are just "the first step" in a coordinated campaign to stonewall the investigation and prevent administration aides from giving depositions or submitting to interviews with Justice Department investigators.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey announced the investigation this week, appointing veteran prosecutor John Durham of Connecticut to handle the probe. Democratic leaders and Constitutional law experts, however, say the Justice Department, which ultimately answers to the White House, cannot be expected to fully investigate Bush's involvement and say the probe needs a special prosecutor.

more at:
http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/linkframe.php?linkid=48835

[liberal N proud]

1. And Congress still sees nothing to justify impeachment

Something is horribly wrong in America and we can't fix it.

[Double T]

2. Actual criminals are running this country.

And THEY think they are untouchable too.

[Blarch]

4. Yep.

And there are still DUers who show these people respect, there are still those duers who treat these people as equals.

Go figure.

[Double T]

5. I'm dumbfounded.

[Blarch]

10. You and I know them.

If Bush is a war criminal and a traitor for his actions...Then what are YOUR family members who also support these actions ?

I for one have principles and morals that I will not compromise.

The people who think Bush is a war criminal...who then turn around and treat family and friends that support these crimes as equals..are failing their country.

I don't give a shit if it's your mom or dad ..they chose this path, you didn't. And if they support murder, rape and torture..then they shouldn't be treated as equals.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. So far, they are, what with impeachment off the table and all that jazz.

[Toots]

16. Apparently they are untouchable....They are "Privileged" you know...

Congress issues subpoenas and the Bush* Cabal ignores them and nothing is done about it :shrug: Doesn't get much more untouchable than that...

[The Backlash Cometh]

21. You can't reach this level of obfuscation, without the help of lawyers.

[KharmaTrain]

3. The 11:59 Plans Are In Place

Yet another admission of criminality by this regime...and another game of chicken. This regime surely knows this abuse of Executive Privilidge is unconstitutional but they're waiting for someone to prove it in a court of law. In fact, this is the game...dare the Democrats and any one else to take them to court. This ensures a delay on having to turn anything over while the case is litigated and worked up the chain (surely boooshie/cheney/addington are betting on their buddies on the SCOTUS to back them up) that is sure to last through and beyond 1-20-09.

I wouldn't be surprise is there's already a plan to hide documents and other edvidence that can't be destroyed under seal by some order or through an existing statue to seal "presidential records" that could seal away valuable evidence for decades.

The time is NOW for Conyers and Waxman to start pushing for inherent contempt against this regime...and do it soon. The longer these crimes dangle, the harder they are to prove and the more evidence is either destroyed, burnt in a fire or down the memory rabbit hole.

[salin]

12. I agree -

the next WH fire might not just be isolated in Cheney's Office (did we ever get any sort of real explanation for that?)

btw, good morning KharmaTrain!

[KharmaTrain]

14. Gone WIth The WInd...

Good morning to you, my friend...

The destruction of the torture tapes have all but convinced me that this regime has a program underway to destroy any and all evidence that could be used against them in a criminal trial. Heck, look at the timing of the destruction of the tapes...right in the middle of the Plame investigation and after the Abu Grahb pictures came out This regime thought those tapes would help in their closed door kangeroo court tribunals, but when they were forced to be accountable to U.S. courts, then those tapes went from evidence to liability...and then poof. I'm sure dozens of other records have since vanished in similar ways...or ended up on servers outside the white house.

I found it interesting that that fire happened just after the visitation logs were to be turned over...and now ya think they might have been in that office? Hmmm?

:hi:

[salin]

18. They learned from their friends at Enron

but there are many other lessons from which they have probably learned. Wonder if Sarah Taylor snuck any files (ala Fawn Hall) on her way out, or how many tapes, if not destroyed, were Rosmary-ed. :shrug:

[zabet]

6. Impeachment needs

to be on the FLOOR Nancy,
fuck the table, put in on
the House Floor!!!

[rateyes]

17. You got it...

That's exactly right.

[C_U_L8R]

7. Using Executive Privilege to cover up a crime?

Even Tricky Dick Nixon didn't get a way with that.

[Wizard777]

28. This is a criminal investigation. Executive privilege does not apply. n/t

[soothsayer]

8. You can bet the rethugs will have an impeachment centerpiece on their table when we take the WH

This kid glove stuff is for the boids, Nancy

[SpiralHawk]

9. "I am really, really, really special." - Commander AWOL

"So you can just take all those laws that apply to ordinary citizens and stuff them where the sun don't shine. Smirk, smirk, smirk."

- Commander AWOL

[riverdeep]

13. The public seems to just be waitnig this out.

It seems to be saying, 'yeah, we know, but what can we do?'

And, if history is any guide, they will get away with this one too. Thanks, Nancy, for taking it off the table. You're a brilliant strategist.

[TroglodyteScholar]

15. The interrogator being protected is GWB. n/t

[Richard Steele]

19. Sorry, but this came from Capitol Hill Blue. That's a source of fun fiction, not news. nm

[blogslut]

23. Gotta agree with you there

While I won't put it past the Bush WH to pull such a move, is there another source for this information?

[troubleinwinter]

26. My thoughts, exactly.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Impeach him and change his strategy.

[City Lights]

22. How can a "regular guy" get away with invoking "privilege" so often?

:argh:

Throw his ass in the slammer!

[Triana]

24. Get a darned sx prosecutor or impeach!

Gawd. WHAT does it it take for anyone up there to get a freakin CLUE? Or, some cajones, one or the other.

[grytpype]

25. Would everyone quit posting these Capitol Hill Blue stories????

They are fake. They make shit up.

[troubleinwinter]

27. Not only posting them, but falling for them.

[spanone]

29. IMPEACH THE BASTARDS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE....

enter Sam Kinison

[Vinca]

30. You know those tapes go right to the very top.

He's beyond impeachment - he should be charged with war crimes.

[malaise]

31. Congress can arrest them

Time for some spine.

[L. Coyote]

32. So, Bush was involved after all. That is a reversal of the WH position, not?

HELLO !!! Privilege only applies if Bush was involved.

[derby378]

33. Does any reputable media source corroborate this?

Capitol Hill Blue is not what I'd consider reliable.

[chill_wind]

34. OF COURSE they are not going to cooperate.

We don't need inauthentic or "authentic" media, either one, to tell us this. We have eight grueling years of history and first hand observation of these racketeers to know this.

[wildbilln864]

35. k&r damnit! n/t

[L. Coyote]

36. "

[fascisthunter]

37. IMPEACH... It's the ONLY WAY (nt)

[focusfan]

38. Bush is trying to cover his ass

and he will get away with it.

[L. Coyote]

39. Only one person could order torture, that simple

[Rex]

40. The WH is forcing a standoff with a destroyed JD.

Amazing...they destroy the institution and then punish the JD by having WH lawyers write law ON DEMAND to prevent the JD from doing its JOB!

AMAZING.

The Bush Castle is under siege by itself. Only now under the peerless leadership of George. Laws written without a need for Congress or the SCOTUS! Truer leadership never was there. :eyes: