Purge-gate story explodes

By: Rob
Published On: 4/14/2007 12:55:05 AM

TPM and McClatchy just blew it wide open.

(UPDATE: NPR does too).

[UPDATE by Lowell: Also, see the New York Times on this.]


Comments



To summarize (Susan P. - 4/14/2007 6:47:52 AM)
  So, we have the Attorney General of the United States, the chief law enforcement officer in the country, lying repeatedly.  An attorney-staffer committing apparent perjury after failed efforts to cover up the reasons for the U.S. Attorney firings.  Another attorney-staffer (a graduate of one of our fine Virginia law schools) taking the Fifth Amendment in an attempt to avoid testifying, but saying she committed no crime before eventually leaving her government post.
  One of the fired U.S. Attorneys successfully prosecuted those tied to Republican bribester Jack Abramoff in an ever-expanding investigation.  Another fired U.S. Attorney was pressured by a Senator and Congresswoman to bring charges against Democrats a month before November elections, and "disappointed" them by not doing so.  And yet another U.S. Attorney gained a reprieve from the planned firing after bringing "beyond thin" questionable charges that were later reversed, naturally against a Democrat.
  E-mails from White House officials, public servants on the public dime, routinely routed through a political party's server in violation of the Public Records Act.  At least a half a million e-mails missing, from the critical period of the start of the Iraq War, to the unravelling of the many excuses for starting the war, to the Valerie Plame incident, to the Kenneth Lay indictment, to the Jack Abramoff prosecution, to the 2004 election, to the "voter fraud" efforts to get Democrats and protect Republicans before the 2006 elections, to the hush-hush firing of U.S. Attorneys who did not cooperate in those efforts, to the Fred Fielding "I'm making you an offer you can't refuse" stonewalling.
  It is time, way past time, for a special prosecutor.


While we're at it... (Lowell - 4/14/2007 7:00:19 AM)
...how about another prosecutor to deal with Paul Wolfowitz?

World Bank President Paul D. Wolfowitz personally dictated the terms under which the bank gave what it called his "domestic partner" substantial pay raises and promotions in exchange for temporarily leaving her job there during his tenure, according to documents released by the bank's executive board yesterday.

Paul Wolfowitz: everything he touches turns to you-know-what.



I especially enjoyed hearing how his little playmate (Catzmaw - 4/14/2007 5:11:27 PM)
was seconded from the World Bank on a salary substantially higher than what her ostensible new boss, Condi Rice, makes. 


Say it ain't so, Tom Davis (PM - 4/14/2007 7:51:02 AM)
Tom Davis was online at the Washington Post chat center on April 12, and his take on the U.S. attorney scandal: no harm, no foul:

http://www.washingto...

Tysons Corner area, Va.: What is your opinion of our attorney general? Do you think he should resign? Or are you waiting to see how he does on April 17?

Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: He had every right to fire the U.S. Attorneys. It shouldn't be an issue. However, this has been botched by the Justice Department, and I think the Attorney General will need a good day on April 27. Ultimately, no laws were broken. It's going to be up to the Administration to see if they want to stand behind him or not.

No laws were broken.  Hmmm.  We'll see.

He also said:

Fairfax City, Va.: Tom, I know you are big baseball fan. Can you tell us what the Nat's chances are this year?

Rep. Thomas M. Davis III: I'm afraid they'll be eliminated by Memorial Day. But I'm optimistic about next year. And they are still my team. And Ryan Zimmerman should've won rookie of the year last year. Now, that's an investigation worth having.

As opposed to all those pesky Waxman investigations?

I guess that means if the Republicans had retained control of the House we'd have another baseball investigation?  Like his critical steroids investigation?