House Plans Hearing Into Libby (Next Week)

MSNBC ^ | Tuesday, July 03, 2007 10:58 AM | Chuck Todd & Mark Murray

[hardback]

From NBC's Mike Viqueira The House Judiciary Committee is planning a hearing next week into the commuting of Libby's sentence.

They don't yet know who they are going to call, but as of this morning they are thinking that they may not have enough time to call Libby himself and properly prepare. That could change.

Henry Waxman's staff over at Government Oversight and Reform is still pursuing Peter Fitzgerald. Recall that Fitzgerald has already declined an invitation to testify, citing the ongoing appeals process.

Though that process continues, Democrats on the committee think that the time may be now right for Fitzgerald to appear.

In the meantime, staffers this morning are looking through statements made by Republicans in the affair surrounding the pardon of Marc Rich. Republicans were outraged at the time when it was disclosed that President Clinton did not consult the DoJ before acting. The same seems to have been the case now with Libby.

Also, conventional opinion up here is gelling around the idea that the president is playing to his ideological conservative base in an attempt to mend fences after backing the comprehensive immigration reform that they all despised.

He's not thinking about the next election, the thinking goes, when independents will decide things. He's thinking about the next year and half and trying to salvage an agenda.

It was noted by one sage observer that a full pardon would have meant that Libby would have been compelled to testify and could no longer take the Fifth. But as it stands, his appeal is still pending. One advantage of a commutation.

[dfwgator]

Right after the Sandy Berger hearings.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Boy, is this ever a joke. Too bad the administration refuses to fight back against these savages.

[rhombus]

EXCELLENT...more “do nothing”.

[hardback]

[Michael.SF.]

It is so much fun to see the looneytunes on the left going apeshit!

[cardinal4]

Henry Waxman's staff over at Government Oversight and Reform is still pursuing Peter Fitzgerald.

Dont they mean Patrick??

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Henry Waxman's staff over at Government Oversight and Reform is still pursuing Peter Fitzgerald. Recall that Fitzgerald has already declined an invitation to testify, citing the ongoing appeals process.

Who's Peter Fitzgerald?

Patrick's brother?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Is this “Peter Fitzgerald” in the article somehow related to Patrick “Merry Fitzmas” Fitzgerald, the special prosecutor? Lord, these reporters nowadays can’t even get the basic facts of a story right! Where do they recruit these so-called “journalists” from, mental institutions?

[george76]

PARDONS GRANTED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON

http://www.usdoj.gov/pardon/clintonpardon_grants.htm

[Still Thinking]

Republicans were outraged at the time when it was disclosed that President Clinton did not consult the DoJ before acting. The same seems to have been the case now with Libby.

The difference being that Rich actually DID something wrong.

[Perdogg]

The proceedings of the grand jury are secret and if Fitzfog talks, he would be in violation of rule 2b, right??

[Sgt_Schultze]

If Libby should appear to testify, his opening comments should include the following.

"Gentlemen, I am happy to appear to answer your questions. Please note I am here to answer questions and not to attend a lecture. Please keep the bluster and babble to a minimum. If I don't discern a question, I will not provide a response."

[jeddavis]

I’d advise Libby or anybody else to answer every question with an appeal to the fifth ammendment.

[Cicero]

Another investigation. What a surprise! Actually, I think this will be very damaging to these idiots. How many investigations can the media focus on before they lose control? And what is the propaganda effect of a congress that does all investigations, all the time?

[hardback]

That’s all the Dims can do (is investigate) since they cannot get any legistlation passed without 60 votes in the Senate!

[mass55th]

"Lord, these reporters nowadays can’t even get the basic facts of a story right! "

They couldn't get their stories straight on the stand at Libby's trial either.

[elhombrelibre]

I recommend they call Bill Clinton; he could help them understand the pardoning process and commuting of sentences. I’m sure they recall his use of this executive privilege.

[tobyhill]

It’s a constitutional prerogative of the President so what are they going to investigate, how the constitution suddenly turned wrong in the last 6 years?

[mass55th]

"Actually, I think this will be very damaging to these idiots."

Is there a lower standing in the polls than "in the tank?"