State GOP Chairman With Close Rove Ties Admits Pressuring Attorney
State GOP Chairman With Close Rove Ties Admits Pressuring Attorney
The Seattle Times reports tonight that a chairman of the Washington state Republican Party with ties to Karl Rove pressured U.S. Attorney John McKay to launch a criminal probe during the hotly contested 2004 governor’s race, which had been certified in favor of the Democratic candidate. The ex-chairman, Chris Vance, “said that he was in contact with the White House’s political office at the time.”
Vance said then-U.S. Attorney John McKay made it clear he would not discuss whether his office was investigating allegations of voter fraud in the election. He said McKay cut off the conversation.
“I thought it was part of my job, to be a conduit,” Vance, who now operates a consulting business, said in a telephone interview. “We had a Republican secretary of state, a Republican prosecutor in King County and a Republican U.S. attorney, and no one was doing anything.“
Vance’s revelation may be new evidence of a wider level of involvement by Karl Rove in the U.S. Attorney purge. Vance and Rove reportedly worked closely on state politics. The Republican gubernatorial candidate in 2004, Dino Rossi, was the candidate “Vance and Rove wanted,” the Seattle Times noted in 2005. Rove and Vance also reportedly worked to get Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) to launch a Senate bid.
McKay is a Republican and was appointed by President Bush. The alleged voter fraud he was being pressured to probe had already been investigated by prosecutors in his office and the FBI, who “never found any evidence of criminal conduct.” Nevertheless, he was pressured both by a GOP official and Rep. Doc Hastings’s (R-WA) office to convene a federal grand jury.
In emails released today, we learned that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ chief of staff Kyle Sampson wrote then-White House Counsel Harriet Miers in Sept. 2006 and identified McKay as one of five U.S. attorneys “we should now consider pushing out.” That same month, Miers called McKay directly interviewed McKay for a federal judgeship position and asked him to explain why he had “mishandled” the governor’s race. By December, McKay had been fired and denied the federal judgeship. Shortly afterwards, a Gonzales aide called McKay to offer him a deal: “you stay silent and the attorney general won’t say anything bad about you.”
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54 Responses to “State GOP Chairman With Close Rove Ties Admits Pressuring Attorney”
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Okay, I think we have grounds for the Impeachment of a few people now. Lets start with Gonzalez, find evidence for a Crimminal Indictment of Rove and then work our way up. It is WAY past time for the this!!
March 13th, 2007 at 11:41 pmVance’s revelation indicates a wider level of involvement by Karl Rove in the U.S. Attorney purge.
And another card falls……..
This is getting pretty widespread.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:41 pmWhen can we procede with charges against Rove and Gonzales for criminal fraud? It seems to me that everyone should be asking our respective Congresspeople this question. It plagues me, like my first infatuation with my high school gym teacher.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:43 pmThis Administration has turned the concept of The Rule of Law on its collective ears. Never in the history of our Country has the law been so abused in not only the letter but also the intent and spirit of it.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:44 pmThis gang has got to go!!
Harriet Miers, too. That’s pretty damned close to the Chimp-in-Chief.
We need a full sweep of the White House. It stinks.
This is getting good.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:45 pmHonest to God, is anyone shocked or surprised that Karl Rove would be involved in such unprincipled and underhanded dealings with these US Attorneys? Gonzales’s presser today was a lame attempt to buy just one maore day, but he will see that one day only reveals more slime.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:45 pmLets not forget Harriet Meirs too. What a great Associate Justice of the Surpreme Court she would have made!
March 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pm(Sarcasm off now)
“We had a Republican secretary of state, a Republican prosecutor in King County and a Republican U.S. attorney, and no one was doing anything.“
Lemme see… I always thought Lady Justice is blind, but was I foolish to think she’s nonpartisan?
This Vance guy needs to spend some time in the crowbar hotel. Sadly, Rove needs to spend LOADS of time there, but seems to have Teflon coating.
Arg…it makes me sick.
As an aside, check out gregpalast.com for his BBC report on what a criminal Rove’s pal, the acting Arkansas US Attorney really is - then explain to me why he’s not being investigated, instead of holding investigations.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:46 pmThat picture is Rove’s 8×10 glossy for the Sears Catalog job he’s trying to get.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:49 pmfunny out of all the stupid, or criminal stuff this administration has done, that this may be the thing that brings them down.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:50 pmThis makes Nixon look like a common thief. What he tried to get away with this gang is actually doing. And nobody in this Country seems to give a Damm!! What have we come too?
March 13th, 2007 at 11:50 pmNice job on Scarborough tonight, Nico.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:51 pmGood point Krazny. It was just this kind of thing that brought Nixon down finally.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:53 pmMaybe I was too pessimistic in my last post. But I don’t see a lot of outrage over this. Then again, it is early in this particular Scandal. Hopefully it heats up. A Lot.
funny out of all the stupid, or criminal stuff this administration has done, that this may be the thing that brings them down.
Comment by Krazny
I hope so.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:53 pmIt is hard to cover up everything when the lawbreaking is as totally rampant as it has been
Krazny sez:
Hey…anything that works. When Al Capone was finally put behind bars, it was for tax evasion.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:54 pmIt seems like Rove has managed to dodge any attempts to make him testify in public. It looks like his time has finally come.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:54 pmI can only hope that Congress continues to compile more evidence on Rove. Everyone knows he must be held accountable for his heinous contributions to these crimes and acts of treason. He AND Gonzales are must-go-downs. They are all in that small circle of malcontents, along with Bush, Cheney, and Rummie. The trap widens.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:55 pmRove might just get frog marched out of the white house yet. But unfortunately not for the crime of outing Valerie Plame.
March 13th, 2007 at 11:58 pmCAN YOU HEAR ME, NOW?
March 13th, 2007 at 11:59 pmI’m with Jim Wolf359 at comment #1. It’s time to start using the “I” word. Impeach these criminals!
March 14th, 2007 at 12:00 amHey, where are the trolls to defend Rove and the gang?
March 14th, 2007 at 12:20 amChris Vance is another FAT SLOB “scorched earth” Karl Rove Nazi.
He was the mouthpiece calling Christine Gregoire to step down in favor of Mafia Dino the Rapeublican “candidate”.
Happily, she stood her ground, and Washington, especially the West part, is SOLIDLY Green Dem (as opposed to Ralph Nader green).
NO MORE investigations by the “justice department”.
I hope Gonzales and SEVERAL more slimeballs like Rove and Vance end up in jail.
THEN they will learn about Bubba’s RULE OF LAW!! (bend ovah, BOY!!)
God Bless the USA and the GREAT State of Washington!!
March 14th, 2007 at 12:24 amGo ahead libs. Get Karl Rove fired. Do you want to lose the war on terror? Karl Rove is a terror warrior, and without him, we’ll lose in Iraq.
But you’ve been betting on us losing in Iraq from day one. Can’t say I’m surprised.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:25 amIf this isn’t a sign of a “vas right-wing conspiracy” then I don’t know what is. Why are they not all in jail?
http://www.getsomejosh.com
March 14th, 2007 at 12:33 amYou know what, I am glad to see Newt and others admit their indiscretions.
Not because it harms them politically, but because it is refreshing to be free and admit fault.
I myself have spent weeks in jail for a minor pot posession. Sure, it’s embarassing but it is the truth.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:37 amBut you’ve been betting on us losing in Iraq from day one. Can’t say I’m surprised.
Comment by firehead
Why do you insist on imposing your imaginatiom on others?
March 14th, 2007 at 12:39 amDoes that make it true?
Karl Rove is neck deep in dog crap, so he needs to resign before he gets indicted for his criminal actions.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:39 amKarl Rove is a terror warrior, and without him, we’ll lose in Iraq.
How is that? Is he gonna don a superman outfit? Is he gonna pull a Rambo?
March 14th, 2007 at 12:40 amKarl Rove is a terror warrior, and without him, we’ll lose in Iraq.
How is yacking on a cell phone gonna stop terrorism?
March 14th, 2007 at 12:41 amAs I understand it Firecranium, this was not a war on terror, but to spread democracy.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:43 amLET ME AMEND THAT TO A DAISY-CHAIN SCENE WITH CHIMPya, Gonzales and Miss Piggy Rove–THREE WITH ONE BUGGER-ALL!!!!! ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS–OF TESTIMONY THAT IS!!!!!
March 14th, 2007 at 12:45 amLET ME AMEND THAT TO A DAISY-CHAIN SCENE WITH CHIMPya, Gonzales and Miss Piggy Rove–THREE WITH ONE BUGGER-ALL!!!!! ONE PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS–OF TESTIMONY THAT IS!!!!!
Comment by Raymond Funamoto
Ray, you have gone far, please don’t blow it now. You have been raised to a level you dont quite yet seem to acknowledge. Please, tone it down.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:49 amKarl Roves flaccid ass would surrender on the first sign of an enemy bullet. Unlike brave Democrats who were attacked with deadly anthrax and still decided that they were going to put on the bold front and not become intimidated.
The Democrats weren’t like Bush on 9/11 flying around like Tinkerbell on extacy.
-GSD
March 14th, 2007 at 1:08 amCaption :
“That’s great Jeff,I’ll see ya later.I get to be the sub.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:09 amDo you have a mouth ball harness?”
But you’ve been betting on us losing in Iraq from day one. Can’t say I’m surprised.
Comment by firehead — March 14, 2007 @ 12:25
Hey Chicken Little - the sky is falling the sky is falling. We’ve heard you already. Frankly I’d rather live next to any Arab than next to you.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:14 amYour stupidity is the scariest thing around here.
You might want to stop eating the lead paint chips.
Unless you have fetal alcohol syndrome then I apologize, not.
“Frankly I’d rather live next to any Arab than next to you.”
Whew!! I’d rather have you live next to any Arab than next to me! (We agree on something!!! So I guess firehead and I don’t have to worry about you bringing our property values down….Thanks alot!)
March 14th, 2007 at 1:28 amGo ahead libs. Get Karl Rove fired. Do you want to lose the war on terror? Karl Rove is a terror warrior, and without him, we’ll lose in Iraq. Comment by firehead — March 14, 2007 @ 12:25 am
If you mean a warrior that spreads terror - that makes a lot of sense. I guess you missed the recent coverage showing international terrorism has gone through the roof thanks to Rove’s dum bass policies? We’ve already *lost* Iraq to chaos - because of Rove, and the rest of your TERRUR WURRIORS of the dum bass GOP.
But you’ve been betting on us losing in Iraq from day one. Can’t say I’m surprised. Comment by firehead — March 14, 2007 @ 12:25 am
Betting, yes, hoping, no. We know anytime you fcuking idiots on the right handle anything - whether it’s Walter Reed, or Iraq you’ll fcuk it up. It’s the only thing you do well, break everything.
We *libs* gave you everything you wanted you fcuking idiot, from funding, to even political support. Until you fcuked up every thing you touched - as usual. I think many *libs* hoped after 911 you idiots would have learned the importance of competence.
I bet my friends bush would fcuk up everything, because I knew he’d live *down* to his resume. He bankrupted, soiled or ruined everything he touched before the white house. Why would he suddenly be competent?
As for you - you’re an idiot loser that would rather see Iraq fail to *whine* and *blame liberals* for your own failure. You’re a whiny, prissy little brat.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:31 amWhew!! I’d rather have you live next to any Arab than next to me! (We agree on something!!! Comment by valiant venus — March 14, 2007 @ 1:28 am
Then why don’t you go exchange land with someone imprisoned in Ramalah - Toranimal. We’d all appreciate it.
So I guess firehead and I don’t have to worry about you bringing our property values down….Thanks alot!) Comment by valiant venus — March 14, 2007 @ 1:28 am
No, we have to worry about GOP lack of regulations creating a bubble to do that.
You’re a st*pid c*nt, you Anorexic T*rd from Ann Coulter’s bowels.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:33 amWe agree on something!!! So I guess firehead and I don’t have to worry about you bringing our property values down….Thanks alot!)
Comment by valiant venus — March 14, 2007 @ 1:28 am
Don’t worry VV, it’s pretty obvious you come from some shit heel town. There’s no danger of me moving somewhere median home prices are
March 14th, 2007 at 1:48 am$84,000. Not even my summer home shitkicker.
My understanding is that after Tinkerbell (Chimpy) stopped flying in circles he ended by hiding in a hole in the ground in Omaha. I’ve always thought it ironic that both Saddam and Chimpy hid in spider holes when the chips were down. This is only one of many things they had in common with each other.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:52 amComment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — March 14, 2007 @ 1:33 am
Did you see VV got her a boyfriend. She and firehead are hooking up. Hope she doesn’t puke all over him.
Hy VapidVagrant - I didn’t know you could lower property values in the trailer park. How is the new double wide?
March 14th, 2007 at 1:53 amShane, all you have to do is look wherever Ann Coulter’s sewer dumps out, and you’ll find where VP*nis is from.
March 14th, 2007 at 1:54 amComment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — March 14, 2007 @ 1:54 am
March 14th, 2007 at 2:01 amYou do have the toughest job around here, wrangling VV can’t be easy. Its a dirty filthy job though and somebody’s got to do it.
Our deepest gratitude.
Did you see VV got her a boyfriend. She and firehead are hooking up. Hope she doesn’t puke all over him. Comment by Shane — March 14, 2007 @ 1:53 am
It’s a closet case *beard-relationship* made in heaven. He acts like a 12 year old girl, and she looks and acts like a 12 year old boy. Just a couple of crazy confused kids pretending to be *straight* while spewing homophobia. Why do I suddenly feel like we’re watching a dating event at Ted Haggard’s church? ;)
March 14th, 2007 at 2:02 amYou do have the toughest job around here, wrangling VV can’t be easy. Its a dirty filthy job though and somebody’s got to do it.
Our deepest gratitude. Comment by Shane — March 14, 2007 @ 2:01 am
She’s just a c*nt wannabe *clone* of Coulter. Both are just dum b*tches that are running from their own psychosexual and gender role confusion. And the *wimpy* GOP men can’t get enough of a *WoeMan* trying to emasculate men. Of course they don’t have the *b*lls* to do it themselves, so they send a *WoeMan* to do the job they’re too wimpy to do. How ironic is that?
March 14th, 2007 at 2:04 amSorry, but nearly every pic I see of the turd blossom I’m reminded of Porky Pig. I’ve got to start getting more sleep.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:09 amComment by ValiantVenusGrewFromUranus — March 14, 2007 @ 2:02 am
I think we need DNA evidence before we label either male or female. Maybe they’re two hermaphrodites. That would explain a lot.
March 14th, 2007 at 2:13 am#46 — That’s not fair to Porky Pig — Porky is a good-hearted soul — Rove is NOT.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:10 amHere in WA we’ve come to know Chris Vance is a scheming, manipulating jackass.
March 14th, 2007 at 10:16 amThis latest doesn’t surprise me at all.
[…] appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, et cetera.” Also, news reports indicate that Rove’s office may have been involved in problems involving the U.S. Attorney from Washington state, John […]
March 14th, 2007 at 10:59 am“Harriet Miers, too. That’s pretty damned close to the Chimp-in-Chief”
But, the Chimp-in-Chief didn’t know what Harriet was doing! So he is not responsible for what happened. Right….. If he didn’t know what Harriet was doing, he is a very negligent president.
March 14th, 2007 at 12:26 pm[…] about a U.S. Attorney, Rove reportedly told him, “He’s gone.†And news reports indicate that Rove’s office may have been involved in problems involving the U.S. Attorney from Washington state, John […]
March 14th, 2007 at 7:42 pmI think that picture would do better justice to this advertisement. http://i15.tinypic.com/29qnq4n.jpg
March 14th, 2007 at 9:25 pm[…] News reports indicate that Rove’s office may have been involved in problems involving the U.S. Attorney from Washington state, John […]
March 15th, 2007 at 6:00 pm