Senators Call on Gorelick to Testify

The Guardian ^ | April 22, 2004 | Libby Quaid

[EllaMinnow]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Eleven Republican senators called on former Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick to testify before the Sept. 11 commission on which she serves.

Gorelick was a top deputy to Clinton administration Attorney General Janet Reno. Some Republicans have called on her to resign from the panel, claiming her tenure at the Justice Department amounts to a conflict of interest.

The senators did not ask her to step aside, but said she should testify under oath before the panel.

``It is our firm belief that any committee report or recommendations will be incomplete without public testimony by Ms. Gorelick about her activities while serving as Deputy Attorney General,'' the senators wrote in a letter sent Thursday to commission chairman Thomas Kean and vice chairman Lee Hamilton.

The senators noted Gorelick has made important contributions to fighting terrorism, including her advocacy of harsher sentences for terrorist activities.

Gorelick came under fire from current Attorney General John Ashcroft at last week's Sept. 11 commission public hearing.

Ashcroft released a previously classified 1995 memo written by Gorelick which had instructions to ``more clearly separate'' counterintelligence from criminal investigations. Ashcroft said this ``wall'' was a major barrier to terrorism probes.

Kean, a Republican, has rejected calls for Gorelick to step aside. He said she is one of the hardest working panel members and noted she recused herself from parts of the probe involving her tenure.

Among the senators who signed the letter are Intelligence Committee members Kit Bond of Missouri, Trent Lott of Mississippi, and Georgia's Saxby Chambliss.

[EllaMinnow]

I would really like to know who the other 8 senators are.

[colorado tanker]

He, he, he. These commissars will have no credibility left when their report comes out.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Yes, me too.

[votelife]

I'd like to know which 8 others too.

[mombonn]

Maybe we should call them the Magnificent Eleven.

I can bet some who didn't sign. Maybe we should call them the Weepublican Weenies.

[princess leah]

How come this report doesn't state 51 Republican senators called for Gorelick to testify as well as step down from the panel?

[Neanderthal]

"I would really like to know who the other 8 senators are."

I guess we'll find out when the NYT runs a front page story on this tomorrow.

[votelife]

I bet Specter didn't sign it.

[Steven W.]

Here is the key:

It is our firm belief that any committee report or recommendations will be incomplete without public testimony by Ms. Gorelick about her activities while serving as Deputy Attorney General

This is exactly why she must testify and, thus, why she must resign from the commission. ASAP.

[BSunday]

very good question

[The Toad]

He said she is one of the hardest working panel members

So what? Does that make her non-partisan then....? What a dumb comment.

[pepperhead]

I would really like to know who the other 8 senators are.

I am guessing one of them is Mitch McConnell.

[bitt]

the "Washington Times writes today,

"And Rep. Jack Kingston, Georgia Republican, said the commission's members haven't impressed anyone.
"The commission is a reunion of political has-beens who haven't had face time since 'Seinfeld' was a weekly show," he said. "In their scramble to make the evening news, they've turned this grave matter into a get-even-for-Monica investigation — a switch the American people see right through."

Give that man a HoooRah.

[backhoe]

Cross-linked... click the Pix:

[Lancey Howard]

The senators noted Gorelick has made important contributions to fighting terrorism, including her advocacy of harsher sentences for terrorist activities.

So these idiots are supporting her "advocacy" of fighting terrorism with "harsher sentences". Then they should vote for Kerry. Like these Senators, Kerry thinks the war on terror should be fought in a freakin' courtroom.

Beam me up.

[Visioneer]

It's about time...

[old and tired]

I would really like to know who the other 8 senators are.

How much you wanna bet Arlen Specter is one of them? Well this Pennsylvania dog isn't fetching Arlen's measley conservative bones anymore.

[old and tired]

I would really like to know who the other 8 senators are.

How much you wanna bet Arlen Specter is one of them? Well this Pennsylvania dog isn't fetching Arlen's measley conservative bones anymore.

[arasina]

She should testify, and her testimony should be in public, on television. And Condoleezza Rice should be allowed to do the questioning of Ms. Gorelick. Quid pro quo.

[mombonn]

Ooh, I like the way you think! LOL