Comey tells an ugly story
If you didn't see it, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey told a very ugly story today at the House Judiciary Committee, telling how Al Gonzales, then chief counsel to the President, and Andy Card went into John Ashcroft's intensive care room after pancreatic surgery in an effort to get him to sign forms overruling acting AG Comey's refusal to sign off on the NSA program.
We knew this had taken place, but in its description, it's a very ugly story.
Here's a transcript. If I can find the video, I'll put it up.
Articles: NYTimes, WaPo, TPM.
We knew this had taken place, but in its description, it's a very ugly story.
Here's a transcript. If I can find the video, I'll put it up.
Articles: NYTimes, WaPo, TPM.
posted by mikevotes at
1:52 PM
9 Comments:
And still the Congress will do nothing... Or at least the majority of Republicans will continue their lemming-like goose step with the administration. I swear, if Steven Harper (Bush wannabe) wasn't PM of Canada I'd be outa here and I wouldn't look back.
Sorry. I'm in a particular funk today. I expect a good night's sleep will set me back to being merely grumpy.
By
-epm, at 3:11 PM
Technically, I don't think there's really anything legally wrong with what they did, but it's just so ugly.
And I'd be in Canada but for the cold.
By
mikevotes, at 3:42 PM
If even Ashcroft wouldn't sign off, how draconian were those measures?
By
Anonymous, at 5:07 PM
It's the NSA wiretap program, tapping without warrant or any legal review.
Oh, and, the call trap information recording every call made by every American.
It's pretty draconian, and still operates with some limitations
By
mikevotes, at 5:54 PM
Comey WAS the Attorney General at the time, in that Ashcroft had officially and legally transferred the powers of AG from himself to Comey while he (Ashcroft) was medically unable to effectively uphold his duties. The WH tried to circumvent the active and LEGALLY APPOINTED, ACTING AG -- at that time -- in an attempt to enforce the political will of the WH. Interestingly, according to Comey, Ashcroft was not pleased with the attempt.
I have no love for Ashcroft, but compared to Gonzo, he was an independent maverick.
By
-epm, at 7:23 PM
Right. Did I misrepresent in titling Comey? Doesn't really matter, you got it.
And, I tend to think of Ashcroft as competent versus Gonzales. I think he was pursuing some very wrong policies, but there is no question that he was up to the job.
By
mikevotes, at 10:25 PM
Just to fill in the gaps in this imperfect method of communication...
In my last reply I was addressing this comment: "Technically, I don't think there's really anything legally wrong with what they did"
I think there was something illegal with what they (Card, Gonzo) were doing.
And regarding Ashcroft v Gonzo, I think you hit it. Policies aside, Ashcroft was competent as AG. While he may have shared many of the professed conservative ideals (anti-open government) of the WH, I don't think he was their stooge, a la Gonzo. Which brings us to why Ashcroft was replaced...
By
-epm, at 9:14 AM
I really don't know the law on this.
They were seeking the signature of a man who had temporarily signed away power which would make such a document invalid, but I really don't know enough to say what laws might have been broken.
I would say that if there was an effort to use Mueller to block Comey's access, that might well be some sort of abuse of power.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 10:57 AM
Oh, hell, I don't know no stinking law... I just like spouting off.
The buzz in the MSM seems to indicate this is shocking. However, you could tell me that Bush personally signed off on the VT shooter's firearms permits -- over the objections of local law enforcement -- and I wouldn't be shocked. Nothing that's reported that these people do shocks me anymore.
By
-epm, at 8:40 PM
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