Posted on 11/07/2011 5:37:53 PM PST by Nachum
On Friday, citing "longstanding and important Executive Branch confidentiality interests," White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler refused a House panel's demand for "all communications among White House staff and officials" relating to Solyndra.
Solyndra is one of the administration's pet "green energy" firms. It received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy before its top executives took the Fifth before Congress.
What's been unearthed so far is embarrassing enough. The Obama administration seems to have rushed the deal through despite multiple warning flags and a lack of due diligence. The now-bankrupt firm, whose largest shareholder is a major Obama fundraiser, spent some $1.8 million on lobbying while waiting for the guarantee.
"If we want to compete with China," the president said recently, "we've got to make sure that our guys here in the United States of America at least have a shot." "Our guys," indeed.
Obama's legal team hasn't yet made an explicit claim of executive privilege, but that seems to be where this is heading.
Executive privilege is a judge-made doctrine, born of "penumbras and emanations" said to flow from the president's constitutional role. A privilege claim is stronger in national security matters and areas over which the Constitution gives the president sole discretion, like the pardon power.
A privilege claim is weaker where, as here, the president's alleged "confidentiality interests" involve shielding potential malfeasance from the taxpayers on the hook for Solyndra's bankruptcy.
But since the courts are reluctant to wade into inter-branch disputes, the struggle for executive-branch transparency is often resolved in a tug-of-war between the White House and Congress.
In 1996, for example, President Clinton claimed executive privilege over documents related to the Travelgate scandal, but a threat to cite the White House Counsel for contempt of Congress forced a climb-down.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
IMPEACH NOW. Boy pharaoh’s crimes far surpass Nixon’s.
And you just post to invite everyone to you ping list?
And you just post to invite everyone to your ping list?
Not at all. I post more than that hamboy.
Wonder how this will play out when THIS White House counsel is cited for contempt?
Here are some things posted recently not to my ping list:
Human Shields? D.C. Occupiers Use Children to Blockade Door in Violent Scuffle
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2803881/posts
Reports: One Cain Accuser Got $45K, Other Got $35K
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2803789/posts
Conservatives Trapped By Occupy DC Claim 9-1-1 Operators Hung Up on them 4 Times
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2803792/posts
Jew-hating Trade Union leader threatens Jewish schools because of Israel’s reaction to UNESCO vote
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2803754/posts
There is a lot of evidence of misconduct and irregularities resulting in a major 525 million dollar loss to taxpayers. There are very real oversight reasons why Congress should have access to these documents.
Executive Privilege is not a basis to cover up misconduct or wrongdoing
Let’s up
OWS is just a cover story created by these crooks. Shift the blame is their game. Smoke and mirrors is what they do best. Just my 2 cents. Which is not a lot because of the inflation that they are causing.
You’re more ham-HANDED, I’d say....
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