They are really running scared with this newest reaction to Congress's threat of contempt charges regarding the firing of the USA's. BushCo said flat out that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege. Per a WaPo article out this morning a senior official has stated:
"A U.S. attorney would not be permitted to bring contempt charges or convene a grand jury in an executive privilege case," said a senior official, who said his remarks reflect a consensus within the administration. "And a U.S. attorney wouldn't be permitted to argue against the reasoned legal opinion that the Justice Department provided. No one should expect that to happen."
This is outrageous. This is pure unadulterated bullshit my dear reader. BushCo is saying that Exec. Priv trumps everything. That he makes the rules and Congress has no authority.
And it doesn't trump everything..no sirree.. Not in the commission of a crime. Not in a free Democracy and not in the United States of America. He isn't a king and he certainly isn't Hitler..although you might get an argument from me about George being a reincarnated version of da fuhrer.
I have been waiting for 'this other shoe' to drop since I wrote this piece Wednesday about Executive Privilege. I knew that Bush and his minions would not sit still for contempt charges being brought by the Justice Dept.
Surely you, my dear reader, didn't either. A final quote from the WaPo writeup:
But Stanley Brand, who was the Democratic House counsel during the Burford case, said the administration's legal view "turns the constitutional enforcement process on its head. They are saying they will always place a claim of presidential privilege without any judicial determination above a congressional demand for evidence -- without any basis in law." Brand said the position is essentially telling Congress: "Because we control the enforcement process, we are going to thumb our nose at you."
The shit is about to hit the fan. I just hope the Congress is ready for it. Its not going to be a cakewalk..and they better not pussy out on this.
Tags: Executive Privilege, Bush, GonzoGate, Contempt of Congress
