Do these subpoenas have any legal weight at all or are they merely political tools?
“Do these subpoenas have any legal weight at all or are they merely political tools?”
The subpoenas have legal authority. The guys issuing them are the political tools.
“Do these subpoenas have any legal weight at all or are they merely political tools?”
I am not sure, but here is some other info from today:
“Gov. Sarah Palin’s administration is threatening legal action to block subpoenas by the Alaska Legislature as part of its investigation into whether she abused her authority in trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.
In a letter to lawmakers, an assistant attorney general wrote that the administration was prepared to go to court to quash the subpoenas of Department of Administration staff if they’re issued as expected today.
But the letter, released yesterday, also suggested that if lawmakers agree that the governor has legal authority to designate staff to review confidential personnel files, the staff members will voluntarily speak with the Legislature’s investigator - no subpoenas necessary.
Sen. Kim Elton, chairman of the Legislative Council, was on a plane and could not be reached for comment yesterday. An aide, Jesse Kiehl, said: “He’s read the letter. I don’t believe that we have written back.””
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-ussara125839434sep12,0,4377263.story