Leahy Threatens Contempt Proceedings

AP via SFGate ^ | 8/20/7 | JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A top Senate Democrat on Monday threatened to hold members of the Bush administration in contempt for not producing subpoenaed information about the legal justification for President Bush's secretive eavesdropping program.

"When the Senate comes back in the session, I'll bring it up before the committee," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I prefer cooperation to contempt. Right now, there's no question that they are in contempt of the valid order of the Congress."

Leahy's committee on June 27 subpoenaed the Justice Department, National Security Council and the offices of the president and vice president for documents relating to the National Security Agency's legal justification for the wiretapping program.

White House lawyer Fred Fielding, in a Monday letter to Leahy, said that the administration needed more time.

"A core set of highly sensitive national security and related documents we have so far identified are potentially subject to claims of executive privilege and that a more complete collection and review of all materials responsive to the subpoenas will require additional time," Fielding said.

Leahy said they had waited long enough.

"It has been almost two months since service of the subpoenas, three weeks since the time they asked for additional time. And still, we have nothing at all," Leahy said.

Leahy also questioned whether the Senate would again reauthorize laws that expand the government's authority to spy on foreigners without the subpoenaed information.

[VRW Conspirator]

I cannot help but think of the Clintons when this crap comes from the Dems.

[TommyDale]

If President Bush had the cojones, he would direct the Department of Justice to open an investigation into Senator Leahy’s national security leaks in the past. That would shut him up.

[toddlintown]

Z-z-z-z...

[toddlintown]

Z-z-z-z...

[Mikey_1962]

Leahy Threatens Contempt Proceedings

I have seen this headline at least three times in the last few months.

[traditional1]

[saganite]

A top Senate Democrat on Monday threatened to hold members of the Bush administration in contempt for not producing subpoenaed information about the legal justification for President Bush’s secretive eavesdropping program.

Didn’t the Democrats just assist in passing legislation for a secretive eavesdropping program? Hmmm

[Ancient Drive]

Leaky Leahy and Dims= bratty bunch of kids

[vetsvette]

Oh, oh. It would be hard for anyone to hold Leahy in more contempt than do I.

[dighton]

Leahy also questioned whether the Senate would again reauthorize laws that expand the government’s authority to spy on foreigners without the subpoenaed information.

Sure, get people killed because you are feeling dissed.

[NeoCaveman]

Oh the Clintons taught us how to handle this:

Just say: “I can’t recall”

Repeat as often as necessary.

[WBL 1952]

When does Bush subpeona Leahy’s aides or is this just a one way street? Can you imagine the bluster coming out of Congress if Bush went after Congressional aides like these idiots come after Bush’s aides?

I think tit for tat is appropriate when there is zero evidence of wrong doing and it is all a show for their Bush Derangement Syndrome audience.

[Jacquerie]

Leahy said they had waited long enough.

I forget, how many years did it take the Hildebeast to find those pesky billing records in the White House?

[chimera]

The ‘Rats don’t have anything else to show for their control of Congress other than hearings and subpoenas. Pretty pathetic, those ‘Rats. I hope the stupid sheeple are paying attention. This is what you get when you elect a ‘Rat Congress. Hope you’re happy...

[Lucky9teen]

[rfp1234]

What'll he do when they don't comply, whack them with a stick?

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

I’m sure that all the members of the Bush Administration have held you in contempt for a long time Senator Leaky....btw, I would pay BIG $$$$$$$ for the privilege of watching this communist and traitorous slime hung on the steps of the capitol.....would be a cable moment.

[italianquaker]

yawnnnnnnnnn

[montag813]

"If President Bush had the cojones..."

I think that phrase deserves the DougFromUpland treatment, to the tune of "If I Had a Million Dollars..."

[tobyhill]

Congress just ruled the program legal in its classified form so they waived any arguments to disclose anything about the program regardless whether they want to scrap it later or not.

[RetSignman]

Sounds like Ol’ Pursey Lips needs to have his leaky diaper changed.

[6ppc]

I have a LOT of contempt for Leahy!

[TChris]

Mmmm kaaaayy, Leaky.

Nothing like a good dose of hypocrisy to start your day, eh?

[Edgerunner]

Gen-u-wine funny!

[xcamel]

Leaky at it again?

[johnny7]

“F _ _ _ off...”

[AU72]

Don’t make Cheney come down and bitch-slap you again, Depends.

[ZULU]

“When the Senate comes back in the session, I’ll bring it up before the committee,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy,”

Whenever I see or hear Leahy, I bring it up - my last meal that is.

[badgerlandjim]

Hold your horses there, Leahy. We’re sending Sandy Burglar to retrieve a few things for us first.

[MEGoody]

Right now, there's no question that they are in contempt of the valid order of the Congress.

I wouldn't blame Bush for having contempt for Congress. I know I do.

[eureka!]

LOL. Actually, I think it was “go f-— yourself”. ;^)

[Stayfree]

I wish a judge could order Leaky Leahy to wear Depends on the floor of the Senate as punishment for all his leaks of confidential information.

[Wolfstar]

Will someone point out to me where in the Constitution (other than impeachment proceedings) Congress is authorized to act both as a policing agency (investigations) and as a court of law (subpoenas, contempt citations, etc.)?

Just because they handed such power to themselves years ago doesn't make it right or Constitutional. And using this power solely for political purposes as a means to attack a presidency held by a political opponent makes the unconstitutional nature of such investigations all the more egregious.

[gulfcoast6]

You are so right!

[oneamericanvoice]

In the words of the President, “Bring it on!” Leahy is an idiot that is only playing games on behalf of the Left audience. He knows this isn’t the way the executive branch works.

[crazyshrink]

I dont know, Leahy has some pretty high up batty friends. Several roles in Batman movies.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070819/ap_en_mo/people_leahy_batman

[johnny7]

LOL... after I posted it... I remembered.

[johnny7]

Ol’ Pursey Lips

He's a concert bonophonist in his spare time...

[NTHockey]

Tell me, how can anyone have anything BUT contempt for this pack of clowns. They are a disgrace to the office, and a treasonous cancer on America.

[sergeantdave]

So when will Bush’s justice department open investigations on Feinstein, Schumer and Reid? That would be fair play.

[Bush gal in LA]

“I prefer cooperation to contempt.’’,,,,,,,,,,,,,I prefer Leaky in a Batman costume, rather than serving in Congress!!!

[redgolum]

This should be interesting.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

[NonValueAdded]

I have contempt for anything Leahy does.

[plainspeaker]

Senator lehey(sp) is up to no good on this one, and I hope he gets Cheney to testify, and I really hope that he will give leahy the same response he gave to another committee member in one of his last appearances (and you all know what that was!) It is too bad that we have to endure this type of crap when there are important things that need addressing. Is there anyone out there that can tell this loser to shut up and go home? If I were Gonzolas, I would turn my dogs on him and just find something on him to send him where he belongs.

[RetiredSWO]

Well at least I agree with the Bush Administration on this:

I hold Congress in Contempt Too!!!

[PGalt]

OUTSTANDING FReeper comments! LOL!

[Vigilanteman]

I prefer Leaky in a Batman costume . . .

I prefer him starring in a dignified public ceremony held in his honor.

[sanjacjake]

I prefer to let Cick Cheney tell Leahy my thoughts
about him and the rest of the D’s on the Committee...
Schumer, Kennedy,etc. Second thought..Dick, tell
them to go after the doughnut hole too. JK