WaPo: Did Gonzo Lie To Congress?

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Law Related
Posted on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 08:49:10 AM EST
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This is beating the proverbial dead horse I think, Gonzo is toast, but WaPo asked the question:

The conflict between documents released this week and previous administration statements is quickly becoming the central issue for lawmakers who are angry about the way Gonzales and his aides handled the coordinated firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year. Democrats and Republicans are demanding to know whether Gonzales, Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty and other Justice officials misled them in sworn testimony over the past two months.

Ayuuup. That's the question. May I suggest that a review of Mr. Gonzales' testimony from his confirmation hearings and since then the past two years raise many similar questions on issues like torture and rendition. If anyone cares to look.

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WaPo: Did Gonzo Lie To Congress? | 12 comments (12 topical)

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let us not forget his probable perjury (5.00 / 2) (#4)
by scribe on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:21:39 AM EST

when talking about opening peoples' mail, too.

To be sure, Gonzo's toast. The important thing is to make such a burnt spectacle of him, and the rest of the thugs in this administration, and to spread it around generously, so as to make as sure as is possible that their conduct will not be a baseline for the next generation of Rethugs. You know, the 24 year-olds who are now working minding climate scientists so they don't speak out and those of their ilk, who in twenty years will be heading departments.

Twenty-five years ago, guys like Alito were clerking for their judge, or grunting out grunt work in some agency. Today, they are where they are. Today's young generation of current Rethugs are the ones who (a) need to be toasted, (b) haven't yet built up enough power and contacts to avoid serious trouble, and (c) aren't savvy enough to not trip themselves up.

From the Post Article:...U sure Gonzo is Toast? (none / 0) (#1)
by TearDownThisWall on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 08:59:11 AM EST

<<Legal scholars say that prosecutions related to lying to or misleading Congress are rare, and that they usually focus on cases in which a defendant is alleged to have clearly lied or destroyed evidence in an attempt to mislead lawmakers. One recent example was the prosecution of former White House aide David H. Safavian, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and others.<p> Stephen Gillers, a law professor at New York University, said several statutes involving obstruction of justice and perjury can be applied to cases in which witnesses allegedly mislead lawmakers.

"The law essentially says what you can't do is lead Congress off on the wrong trail or to the wrong conclusion, even if what you say is technically true," Gillers said. "But it's very rare to actually have prosecutions for lying to Congress.">>

Doesn't much matter (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by andgarden on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:04:18 AM EST

The General has been thoroughly discredited.


Heh (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:16:57 AM EST

You think Gonzo has to be convicted or even charged before he will be forced to resign?

Funny comment. Good knee slapper.


George will dump him like used up baggage (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by Edger on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:34:38 AM EST

before his presence makes George look any worse. If that's even possible.


It's a done deal (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:46:18 AM EST

: Oh yeah, I agree. (none / 0) (#9)
by Edger on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 10:16:21 AM EST

I wasn't questioning that.

I was questioning whether it was possible for Bush to look any worse. But maybe he has hidden talents, or resources? ;-)

Gonzales has to cooperate with Congress... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by cal11 voter on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:47:49 AM EST

if the Bush administration is persuade America that it did nothing wrong here. If Gonzales resigns, Americans would see it as a reflection on the White House and the President. I think whether he stays or goes depends on his performance in hearings before Congress.


: I doubt it (none / 0) (#8)
by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 09:54:08 AM EST

HE has to worry about crimes now.
I give it a week.

Yep. IIRC, Georgie was touting ol' Rummy (none / 0) (#13)
by mentaldebris on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 06:48:27 PM EST

before giving him the heave-ho. George doesn't seem to like it when people complicate his life, even his very bestest friends.


Murray Waas (none / 0) (#11)
by squeaky on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 11:53:36 AM EST

Digs up some dirt:

Shortly before Attorney General Alberto Gonzales advised President Bush last year on whether to shut down a Justice Department inquiry regarding the administration's warrantless domestic eavesdropping program, Gonzales learned that his own conduct would likely be a focus of the investigation, according to government records and interviews.
Bush personally intervened to sideline the Justice Department probe in April 2006 by taking the unusual step of denying investigators the security clearances necessary for their work.

War & Piece

What a surprise.

: What a surprise... to whom? ;-) (none / 0) (#12)
by Edger on Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 11:57:17 AM EST