Mukasey Nixes Special Prosecutor In CIA Case

[babylonsister]

AG nixes special prosecutor in CIA case

No Plans for Special Prosecutor to Investigate Destroyed CIA Tapes, Mukasey Says

LARA JAKES JORDAN
AP News

Jan 25, 2008 15:50 EST


Attorney General Michael Mukasey said Friday he doesn't plan for a special prosecutor to investigate whether the CIA broke the law when it destroyed videotapes of terror interrogations, defying some in Congress who want an independent look at the politically charged case.

Mukasey, in a 41-minute briefing with reporters, also ducked repeated questions about whether he considers waterboarding an illegal form of torture — an issue expected to be at the top of the agenda when he appears next week before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Speaking tersely and in an even, low tone, Mukasey would not discuss whether he has seen any evidence that destroying the interrogation tapes violated court orders or otherwise interfered with any case. He said the ongoing criminal investigation, headed by career federal prosecutor John Durham of Connecticut, was opened on grounds of "some indication — which is a lot less than probable cause — some indication that there was any violation of any federal statute."

"And that's the only basis on which we proceeded," Mukasey said.

Asked if he has reconsidered his decision not to put a special prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Mukasey said, simply, "No."

Mukasey was even more reluctant to discuss the act of waterboarding itself — the interrogation tactic that is believed to have been shown on the destroyed tapes. The issue briefly stalled Mukasey's nomination as attorney general last October, when he said he did not know enough about it to say then that it should be outlawed by the United States.

"I understand there's interest in that," Mukasey said Friday, noting that he promised senators last fall that he would review the practice of waterboarding and "offer the view of whether the current program is lawful or not."

"That's what I said I would do," he added. "And I can't say any more, and I won't say any more."

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/01/ag_nixes_special_prosecutor_in_1.php

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Well, at least the powder remains dry.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Toadie is as Toadie does

[NightWatcher]

3. Who's watching the watchers....

that has always been the rub when it came to the CIA and the rest of the intel community. The fear is not of eventual oversight, but in who it is that does the oversight. The levels of protection for the current BFEE is like the old Soviet machine.

[thunder rising]

4. Doesn't that free Conyers to unleash the dogs? I mean with all that dry powder

[thunder rising]

5. How would you like to be the dupe of one of the dumbest assholes on earth

I mean, what could you put on your resume to save face?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. Top lawman? Ha! What a f'n travesty...

As stated above, just another BushCo, toadie a-hole.

[noise]

7. And why should the public

conclude Mukasey is acting in good faith? It appear that powerful officials expect the public to support them based on nothing more than the notion of 'trust me.' That is a pathetic standard. IMO, there is no reason to trust an official who will not admit the obvious (waterboarding=torture) for political reasons.

[gratuitous]

8. Paging Sen. Schumer

Schumer said that by confirming Mukasey, he'd somehow become all responsive and stuff to the concerns of the Senate. As "Dr." Phil might query, "How's that working out for ya, Chuck?"

[babylonsister]

10. And don't forget Feinstein; they're both responsible for confirming

this boob.

[L. Coyote]

9. There must be a reason why "I can't say any more" was part of his reply. Is it

because his rulings in Padilla are entangled in the torture litigation?

Or, is it because there are secret grand juries working on torture indictments?

If Mukasey as AG is investigating torture, would he have to say "I can't say any more" about an ongoing investigation?