Senate GOP to DOJ IG: No Investigating Torture!

[babylonsister]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/senate_gop_blocks_doj_ig_from.php

Senate GOP Blocks DOJ IG From Investigating Torture
By Paul Kiel - May 5, 2008, 4:17PM

From The National Law Journal:

Congress is close to enacting the most significant boost in three decades in the independence of the cadre of government watchdogs -- federal inspectors general -- but the lawmakers have retreated from a key change involving the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Senate on April 23 approved, by unanimous consent, S. 2324, the Inspector General Reform Act of 2008. But the bill passed only after the lawmakers agreed to an amendment by Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., which, among other items, deleted a provision giving the Justice Department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) jurisdiction to investigate misconduct allegations against department attorneys, including its most senior officials.

Unlike all other OIGs who can investigate misconduct within their entire agency, Justice's OIG must refer allegations against department attorneys to the department's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). The latter office, unlike the OIG, is not statutorily independent and reports directly to the attorney general and the deputy attorney general....

President Bush had threatened to veto the House bill for a variety of reasons. The Kyl amendment to the Senate bill was seen by many as a vehicle for the White House's objections.

OPR, which reports to the attorney general, is currently conducting a variety of very sensitive investigations for the administration. The office is probing the Department's approval of the administration's warrantless wiretapping program. And recently it announced that it is investigating the Department's legal memos authorizing the use of waterboarding and other forms of torture by CIA and military interrogators.

It is conducting those probes because Inspector General Glenn Fine cannot. The bill which passed the House would have changed that, as Fine himself pointed out in a letter (pdf) to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) back in February, when he told them that he could not investigate the Department's authorization of torture because "under current law, the OIG does not have jurisdiction to review the actions of DOJ attorneys acting in their capacity to provide legal advice." Fine added: "Legislation that would remove this limitation has passed the House and is pending in the Senate, but at this point the OIG does not have jurisdiction to undertake the review you request."

And with Kyl's amendment, it appears that Fine won't be getting that jurisdiction any time soon.

more...

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/05/senate_gop_blocks_doj_ig_from.php

[spanone]

1. 'by unanimous consent' ....says it all

:nopity:

[Ghost in the Machine]

2. FUCK the GOPiggies and their ilk...

It's past time to declare the repugnantcan party as a hate group and a continuing criminal enterprise...

GOP = Grand Old Pedophiles: http://www.republicansexoffenders.com

Republican sex offender & Department of Children & Families press secretary Al Zimmerman, 40, was arrested Friday, Feb 1, 2008 and charged with eight felony charges of using a child in a sexual performance. According to an arrest report, Zimmerman offered two teens money in exchange for photographing them in sexual acts. The victims were ages 16 and 17 at the time of the crime, and at least one may have been in the care of DCF at one point, according to the report. Authorities believe some of the images date back to December 2005, the arrest report showed. Zimmerman is suspected of taking photos as recently as Friday, the report showed.

Republican U.S. Justice Department official John David R. Atchison, 53, an assistant U.S. attorney from the northern district of Florida, has been arrested on suspicion of traveling to Detroit over the weekend to have sex with a 5 year old child. An undercover officer posed as a mother offering her child to Atchison for sex, according to police. In deposition, detectives said Atchison suggested the mother tell her daughter that "you found her a sweet boyfriend who will bring her presents." The undercover detective expressed concern about physical injury to the 5-year-old girl as a result of the sexual activity. Detectives said Atchison responded, " I am always gentle and loving; not to worry, no damage ever, no rough stuff ever. I only like it soft and nice." The undercover detective asked how Atchison can be certain of no injury. He responded, "Just gotta go slow and very easy. I've done it plenty," according to detectives.
**UPDATE: John Atchison has killed himself. Detroit police confirmed Atchison's suicide death at 10:14 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, 2007. Good riddance, scumbag!

Republican city councilman John Bryan killed himself after police began investigating allegations that he had molested three girls, including two of his adopted daughters, ages 12 and 15.
Republican Homeland Security deputy press secretary Brian J. Doyle , 55, was arrested Tuesday night, April 4, 2006 and charged with trying to "seduce'' a 14-year-old Polk County girl with graphic talk over the Internet. On March 12, Doyle contacted a 14-year-old girl whose profile was posted on an AOL Web site, according to the Sheriff's Office release. Initially, detectives thought Doyle was posing as someone working for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But they soon learned otherwise when he sent a picture to the girl over the Internet wearing an official ``DHS tag'', Judd said.

The former head of the Michigan Federation of Young Republicans, Michael Flory, admitted Tuesday that he sexually abused a colleague during a national convention in Cleveland last summer
Republican legislator Ted Klaudt was charged with raping girls under the age of 16.

Republican city councilman Joseph Monteleone Jr. was found guilty of fondling underage girls.
Republican Township Supervisor Robert Holland stepped down amid accusations that he sexually assaulted a 92-year-old nursing home resident in 2006. Holland, a 77-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty to aggravated indecent assault and related charges and is now serving a two-to four-year prison sentence in Bucks County.

Republican congressional aide Jeffrey Nielsen was arrested for having sex with a 14-year old boy.

Republican County Commissioner Patrick Lee McGuire surrendered to police after allegedly molesting girls between the ages of 8 and 13.

Republican prosecutor Larry Corrigan was arrested for soliciting sex from 13-year old girls.

Republican Mayor Jeffrey Kyle Randall was sentenced to 275 days in jail for molesting two boys -- ages ten and 12 -- during a six-year period.

Republican County Board Candidate Brent Schepp was charged with molesting a 14-year old girl and killed himself three days later.

[annabanana]

3. Every energy and effort of the remaining GOP in Washington is directed

to the obstruction of Justice. Their only remaining platform is:

COVER YOUR ASS