Guest blogged by Winter Patriot
The request – released to Raw Story – cites conflict of interest on the part of Ashcroft in his failure to promptly recuse himself during the initial investigation into the outing of CIA agent Valerie Wilson. Ashcroft was US Attorney General at the time.
The CIA filed charges with the FBI and Justice after columnist Robert Novak made Wilson’s identity public in July of 2003. It has since been learned, as part of a case currently in front of a grand jury, that Karl Rove – Senior Advisor to President Bush, was the source for several reporters on the Wilson story.
Ashcroft was appointed to the AG office on the suggestion of Rove, who was also the political consultant for Ashcroft’s 2000 US Senate campaign bid against the late Governor Mel Carnahan (D-Missouri), for which Rove was paid an estimated $750,000 in services.
Conyers, ranking member on the House Committee on the Judiciary, and Hinchey, a member on the House Committee on Appropriations, both request that US Inspector General, Glen A. Fine, also investigate the Justice Department’s procedural failures, including failure to preserve documents.
The request is to be filed early this afternoon, but a fully transcribed version – excluding footnotes – is available [now].
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Thanks again, Larisa!!
"Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you"
Score (another) one for our man John!
Here’s a list of things Congressman Conyers might want to look at when you get the "response" from the "investigators". [More . . . ]
Here’s a link that has rumors of who’s being indicted by Fitzgerald in this mess. One of them is Ashcroft, who is discussed here. Others are Dick Cheney, Andrew Card, Scooter Libby, Alberto Gonzalez, Judith Miller, and Mary Matalin.
This link also alleges that our forces intercepted British agents trying to blow up the subway under the Dirksen Federal Building where Fitzgerald was holding hearings.
Taking this information with a grain of salt, as its source appears to be of questionable integrity, but it is probably something that should be looked into and researched. There are names here to go and pursue and find out whether this is substantive or not.
Usenet link
Woops, pardon the unfamiliarity with what I thought was bbcode being used for links…
Here’s the appropriate link:
Google link
I’m not sure why Conyers is asking for an investigation on Asscroft when it apears that Fitzgerald has expanded his scope to the point that Asscroft may already be indicted. I would think that at this point it may be a good idea to just let Fitzgerald do his job and not bog it up with photo ops.
I’m grateful for what Conyers has done regarding the DSM and sElection irregularities, but since most of his efforts just end up hitting a wall, why not step back until we see what Fitxgerald comes up with. I hardly think a letter from Conyers would change Fitzgeralds investigation as he seems like a very competent person who has his own ways of getting to the truth.
Hi, Terri – The way I see it is that it is Mr. Conyers JOB to address these questions, in writing, to the appropriate persons/departments. Maybe if more elected officials were interested in doing their JOBS properly and running "good" government, in every sense of the word, then the corruption would be far less rampant, there would NOT have been a war against the Iraqi people, and Mr. Fitzgerald would be prosecuting other cases, other than against the current lying, murderous, treacherous Bush administration.
When you "hit a wall" while doing your job, especially when it involves matters critical to the safety, security, even life and death of its citizens, then it is more important than ever that you KEEP ON doing your job. Everyone of us must do whatever we can. No one can afford to sit around waiting for someone else to "maybe" do something and succeed. Criminals can only thrive when good people do nothing.
Good luck nuts!
I agree, Peggy.
And every time Conyers writes & sends a letter or request to the WH & is greeted by a non-responsive wall, it is another piece of documentation in the dismal record of this admin.
Joan and Peggy
My concern is that Rep. Conyers has filed so many of these requests that it’s starting to lose it’s impact. But hey, I can see your points also.
Every blog I go into there’s always some people gripeing about the Dems lack of action, but other than here and a few other places (cause Brad does seem to get a smarter than average crowd) they seem unaware of anything Conyers or Dean or Kennedy, etc. is doing. Even libs act like if they didn’t see it on the NBC Nightly News, it didn’t happen. So sure, the more of these Conyers files, the more hearings he has in the basement, maybe something will finally stick.
It’s just that in the big picture, bringing Asscroft down isn’t really that big of a get. Well big, but not huge. On the other hand, if they really get the goods on him, that Chickenhawk will sing like a bird.
Whatever. I promise to never second guess Rep Conyers ever again. OK? He rocks!