Martinez: ‘I’m Not Sure Rove Had Much To Do With’ Attorney Purge
Martinez: ‘I’m Not Sure Rove Had Much To Do With’ Attorney Purge
On CNN’s The Situation Room, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) claimed that Karl Rove did not have much to do with the Bush administration’s partisan purge of eight U.S. attorneys.
Martinez — who also serves as the Republican National Committee Chairman — rejected demands by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) that Rove appear before the Senate to discuss his role in the attorney purge. “Well, I can see how Harriet Miers would be an appropriate witness. I’m not so sure if Karl Rove has much to do with this,” he said. Watch it:
Just last month, a top Justice Department official told Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a letter that the “Department is not aware of Karl Rove playing any role in the decision to appoint [Rove ally Tim] Griffin” as U.S. Attorney in Arkansas. But recent reports have provided evidence that “all roads lead to Rove“:
– “[T]he idea of firing all 93 U.S. attorneys was raised by White House adviser Karl Rove in early January 2005, indicating Rove was more involved in the plan than previously acknowledged by the White House.”
– “White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Rove relayed complaints from Republican officials and others to the Justice Department and the White House counsel’s office.”
– In recently-released emails, former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson writes, “I know that getting [Griffin] appointed was important to Harriet, Karl, et cetera.”
– When a GOP chairman in New Mexico complained about a U.S. Attorney, Rove reportedly told him, “He’s gone.”
– News reports indicate that Rove’s office may have been involved in problems involving the U.S. Attorney from Washington state, John McKay.
Transcript:
BLITZER: In order to get the facts out, should top current and former White House officials come before the Congress and testify under oath, specifically Karl Rove and Harriet Miers, the former White House legal counsel?
MARTINEZ: Well, I can see how Harriet Miers would be an appropriate witness. I’m not so sure if Karl Rove has much to do with this. That is, again, injecting politics into it. But I think all of those that are relevant to the investigation should certainly come and testify before the Congress. The Congress has an important oversight responsibility. And I’m not suggesting that should be abdicated. I’m just saying let’s get the facts out first.
BLITZER: But his name does come up in a lot of these e-mails that the White House released. Karl Rove wants this. He is happy about that. He won’t be happy if you do this. It seems like he had a direct role in some of these decisions.
MARTINEZ: Well, White House counsel was Harriet Miers, and I think these contacts were directed to the White House counsel. And while Rove may an opinion, he is deputy chief of staff, if appropriate, he probably should testify as well. I’m not trying to remove him from the possibility of testimony, I’m just saying let’s make sure that it is directed at getting out the facts and investigating and not just a political witch hunt.
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55 Responses to “Martinez: ‘I’m Not Sure Rove Had Much To Do With’ Attorney Purge”
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Please keep the focus of TP on the fired US Attorneys. We don't want the public to know we are politically impotent with regards to Iraq.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:02 pm“Well, I can see how Harriet Miers would be an appropriate witness. I’m not so sure if Karl Rove has much to do with this,â€
Coming from a Republican Senator that holds absolutely no water.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:02 pmCan Mel survive?
March 15th, 2007 at 6:02 pmCan Boehner survive?
Answer, possibly, if they immediately stop supporting the criminals....
For more on the Rove connection and the latest news, hearings, legal filings and other essential documents on the Bush DOJ prosecutor firings, see:
March 15th, 2007 at 6:03 pm"The U.S. Attorney Scandal Documents."
That's fine. Rove will have ample opportunity to vindicate himself when he testifies.
LOL!
March 15th, 2007 at 6:03 pmUh, read the story below, Mr. Mel "How did that Terri Schiavo memo get in my pocket?" Martinez.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:03 pmGive Martinez an "A" for asskisser. Good, boy!
March 15th, 2007 at 6:07 pmMy, God! If I hadn't lived in Florida before, I wouldn't believe how cockroaches can swarm when disturbed. And believe me, these cockroaches are pretty disturbed! -heh-
March 15th, 2007 at 6:11 pmMel's doing what he's paid to do --- shill for the RNC.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:17 pmSorry, Florida.
Rove has a son - is he planning on enlisting? If not, why not?
March 15th, 2007 at 6:17 pmToo bad Martinez wasn't under oath when he decided to speak all that crap. Keep talking boys keep talking.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:17 pmHey Rove, when you finally get your chance to testify, before Congress, remember to point out that...
“WAAAAHHHH!!! MOMMY, MOMMY IT’S NOT FAIR!!! CLINTON DID IT TOO. WAAAAHHH!!! IT’S NOT FAIR!â€
That will be a sure fire way to put this whole fiasco to bed, for once and for all.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:18 pmUh, read the story below, Mr. Mel “How did that Terri Schiavo memo get in my pocket?†Martinez.
You beat me to it Uosdwis! This guy is on the Varsity - so if he is coming out of the woodwork then they just might be squirming.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:18 pmBRA-HWA-HWA. This just keeps getting better and better. Over the past 6 years, I have said to God, "I hope you know what you're doing here - I hope you are planning one spectacular fall for these guys, because burning in hell for all eternity is just not enough. " Guess so.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:19 pm"I'm not sure" are the operative words here.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:19 pmWell, well....who's got their finger in the pot now? Martinez and the RNC and the emails from Rove and Harriet Whats-her-face....now that's prime to sit there and deny that Rove had anything to do with it because Martinez is probably in the middle of the RNC debacle involving the emails regarding the purged attorney situation....how "special"!!
Maybe Martinez himself has "more of a roll" in all of this and is attempting to cover his own butt? Maybe Martinez should be subpoenaed himself??
March 15th, 2007 at 6:19 pmWell, Mel....the old proverbial "magical memo in pocket" man! This guy's a big a thug as Rove and the rest.....how amazingly special it is to hear him attempt to exonerate his bud, Rove! How amazingly transparent Mel's become. No doubt now that Mel's just "outed himself" and his own complicity in all of this....how amazing these idiots are when their house of cards begins to crumble beneath their feet.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:21 pmPerhaps we can even connect Mel's dots to the "stolen election" in 2000....such an illustrious representative from Florida! Now that would be special, too. No doubt he's had his finger in many pots over the years and his head may, indeed, roll next when the florida whistleblowers start to sing.....I can hear it now.....Be careful what you ask for, Mel....or who you opt to front these days, Mel.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:23 pmMel Martinez = the Original CYA Man! This time he's gone a bit too far though and has outed himself along the way. Very interesting....let's see what tomorrow brings for good ole' boy, Martinez.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:24 pmPoor Mel...guess he didn't get the "email" that Schumer has just gone public with the fact that what Mel was purporting was absolutely wrong?? Poor Mel didn't see the handwriting on the wall which implicates Rove....poor, poor Mealy Mel!
March 15th, 2007 at 6:26 pmOooohh that Mel...can't ya smell that Mel? Oooohhh that Mel, the smell of political cadaver's surrounds you.
-GSD
March 15th, 2007 at 6:34 pm#6, Nice catch about the Schiavo Talking Points, that was my first thought too with this GOPbot
That was also the source of one of Powerline's funnier than usual fiascos, the W quislings at that site were just sure the Schiavo TPM was a dem stunt
Of course, when the truth was that the Dems weren't involved in the TPM, the Powerline Nattering Nabobs somehow tried to pass off their badly blown analysis by arguing that their larger points about the GOP's overwhelmingly-unpopular Schiavo policy were still valid
And last I checked, Martinez doesn't have any legal authority to tell the House or Senate who they may or may not subpeona
Martinez should stay away from legal/subpeona analysis of any kind and focus on activities more closely attuned to his "natural abilities", cutting various ribbons at various supermarkets, auto dealerships, banks & casinos
March 15th, 2007 at 6:35 pmMartinez didn't hear about the new emails when he does he will say Bill Clinton did it that's the Republican defense now. One would think Bill was no longer President but he seems to still be in charge. Bill invaded Iraq, stop money to Walter Reed for injured troops, gave Halliburton all the contract for doing no work, leaked the CIA's name, ordered illegal spying on Americans and now fired honest lawyers for the White House. If only Bush could help us clean this mess Bill made.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:38 pmPlease keep the focus of TP on the fired US Attorneys. We don’t want the public to know we are politically impotent with regards to Iraq. Comment by valiant venus — March 15, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Such a fascination with *impotence*. It makes sense, considering only men with a fetish for 12 year old boys would be interested in an Anorexic Boy-Girl like yourself.
Unlike you Mighty Anorexic, we can chew bubble gum and walk at the same time. You should chew some gum sometime - and not the sugarless kind - you could use those extra calories! Your current diet has made you st*pid.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:43 pmOf course Rove has his fingerprints all over this. Anyone thinking otherwise is not paying attention or is willfully blind.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:46 pmNo doubt, Mel. It was obviously the Senate Democrats that initiated this purge.... ROFLMAO
Cheers,
March 15th, 2007 at 6:47 pmComment by GSD — March 15, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Good one, thanks for the chuckle, I needed it.
Comment by EvilPoet — March 15, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Rove has a son? How?! Ewww!
March 15th, 2007 at 6:52 pmRove has a son? How?! Ewww!
Comment by JaneESchneider
Horrifying thought, isn't it? That poor boy.
March 15th, 2007 at 6:57 pmYes, and Rove recently stated he "...doesn't want his son to have to pick tomatoes or make beds in Las Vegas."
March 15th, 2007 at 6:58 pmJaneESchneider - Can you imagine what it would be like to have Rove as a father? Oy! If you get a chance you should check out "The Architect: Karl Rove and the Master Plan for Absolute Power" by James Moore and Wayne Slater. Very interesting read imo.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:13 pmYes, and Rove recently stated he “…doesn’t want his son to have to pick tomatoes or make beds in Las Vegas.â€
Comment by Raven
Well, if Rove raised the boy, he's learned how to be a criminal. Maybe he'll be making beds and picking tomatoes in lock up.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:14 pmPlease keep the focus of TP on the fired US Attorneys. We don’t want the public to know we are politically impotent with regards to Iraq. Comment by valiant venus — March 15, 2007 @ 6:02 pm
Democrats will have a lot more leverage on Iraq when the hearing start and all your little rats start jumping ship. It's only the trolls here who keep moving the chairs on deck. The people with careers will be cutting deals with anybody they can.
And vv - just because a man can't get it up with your pathetic skinny ass doesn't mean he's impotent or gay. Don't listen to Coulter for man advice - Zooey and I will give you any advice you need. We're here to help.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:16 pmCan you imagine what it would be like to have Rove as a father?
Comment by EvilPoet — March 15, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
I'm quite sure Rove only THINKS he's the father.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:18 pmZooey are you there because I volunteered us to help with ValientVenus' love life. Or lack of one as the case may be.
Apparently she has issues with impotence. Learned that from Guy Coulter no doubt.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:21 pmShane,
You must like big projects. :)
I can imagine VV has issues with impotence -- every time a guy sees her naked.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:34 pmshane - I don't know about that and I'm not one for speculating on those types of things.
March 15th, 2007 at 7:39 pm...But recent reports have provided evidence that “all roads lead to Rove“
good work TP ! ... keep on it...
i think it's working:
March 15th, 2007 at 8:16 pmMay those who know of the crimes of this Administration continue to come forward with testimony and evidence of wrongdoing.
- Briseadh na Faire
.
Here is how Frederic Black, fomer. U.S. Atty. for the U.S. Territories) was fired in 2002: 1) he discovered criminal activity connected to the clothing manufacturers operations in Mariannas , 2) these businessmen asked for help from, and wrote a check to Jack Abramoff, 3) Jack cut a Purchase Order for an prosecutor hit job to Bush, 4) Bush, the exclusive holder of the authority to do so, fired Black.
March 15th, 2007 at 8:22 pmIncidentally, due to these actions Abramoff and Bush are guilty of felony conspracy to commit bribery, and this issue is obviously the same story as the purge, so stop leaving it out of general explanations and time charts.
LYING MOUTHPIECE OF Bushland Uber Allies--Mel Martinez: "I'm not so sure if Karl Rove has much to do with this." SINCE WHEN DID CHIMPya's "Brain" NEED ANOTHER AND ALBEIT DUMBER BRAIN TO FUNCTION--HAS Martinez BECOME Rove's "Brain" TO ANSWER FOR Rove AND DECIDE WHETHER HE HAD MUCH TO DO WITH THE CONSPIRACY AND FIRING OF THE U.S. ATTORNEYS? DOES Martinez KNOW WHAT HE SAID AND HOW IT SOUNDS TO ANYONE WITH AN OUNCE OF COMMON SENSE? ZOUNDS, WHAT AN UTTER IMBECILE AND DOLT Martinez IS IF HE TRULY DOES NOT KNOW, OR WHAT A CONNIVING, UNDERHANDED, LYING VARLET HE IS IF HE DOES INDEED KNOW OF Rove's COMPLICITY IN THIS MATTER!!!!! HAH!!!!!
March 15th, 2007 at 8:38 pmhttp://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002777.php
March 15th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Say goodnight Speedy.
March 15th, 2007 at 8:42 pmMartinez is a lying sack of shit. Terry Schiavo had more brains than this ugly retard does. Doesnt the RNC realize that the White House can't operate without REichmaster Rove running things? Is he called "bushit'sbrain" for nothing? Bush can't even take a leak without getting a slip from KKKRove.
March 15th, 2007 at 8:57 pmLook's like Martinez is ready to trade in his Senate seat...
...to become a bicycle rack...
March 15th, 2007 at 9:00 pm[...] like call or write your Congresscritter, to express your discontent, if you sincerely feel any. Nice summary. [...]
March 15th, 2007 at 9:30 pmPlease keep the focus of TP on the fired US Attorneys. We don’t want the public to know we are politically impotent with regards to Iraq.
Comment by valiant venus
And which administration and political party have bungled the war (of choice) in Iraq from the outset? Get another talking point already, Mighty Hypocrite/unvaliant venus. You've already overused this one.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:29 pmPlease keep the focus of TP on the fired US Attorneys. We don’t want the public to know we are politically impotent with regards to Iraq.
Be proud, murderer. Be proud.
March 15th, 2007 at 10:41 pmI am wishing to find a television that is objective and not this politicizing. I have been years looking for it and never I have found it. When they create a television network that speaks of political subjects and is completely objective, it will be a great day for all. In addition to which it will be a great business because million viewers estan wishing to find something thus.
http://www.dovoyeur.com
March 16th, 2007 at 5:29 ami wish it help....
March 16th, 2007 at 5:44 ami wish it help….
March 16th, 2007 at 6:04 amI agree with you
March 16th, 2007 at 6:17 amI agree with you333334
March 16th, 2007 at 6:29 amI agree with you3333347
March 16th, 2007 at 7:18 amI agree with you33333475
March 16th, 2007 at 7:21 amI agree with you333334759
March 16th, 2007 at 7:23 amWell, at the risk of being called every epithet in the book by people who I'm sure I agree with politically, I must say that valiant venus (with whom I have no history to evaluate a political position) has a legitimate point. Snarky, but legitimate.
I live in Murtha's district, I voted for him, and I'm behind his Iraq position one hundred percent. When he was up for Majority Leader, the Swift Boat attack came from the Democrats: the Clinton /Emmauel /Carville /Biden /Carper /Nelson /Reid /Hoyer DLC corporate suck-up wing of the party. Hoyer prevailed on rumors of impropriety that have since vanished into thin air. Now Her Majesty has reversed her previous public proclamation to end the war by now 'fessin up that should she be elected President, she'd keep troops in Iraq indefinitely -- of course we knew that all along -- she wouldn't risk one plug nickel of political capital on anything that would stand in the way of her lust for power. Just take a peek at Obey's tirade: I thought he was on our side.
The dissent of the DLC corporatists has effectively stifled progress. These are a well-funded and particulalry oily bunch, as one would have to be to live life as a Republican in Democratic clothing. The only way they're going to grow a spine is when their focus groups tell them that public opinion is so overwhemingly in favor of, hmmm... let's say, IMPEACHMENT, that it's certain to not irritate anyone that could do them political harm, by, say, withholding campaigh contributions. And leading the pack is our proud DLC Wal-Mart board of directors Iraq backpeddling media annointed former First Lady. This entire scenario is just plain disgusting.
Should there be a God, we owe her a debt of thanks for people like Henry Waxman, Russ Feingold, Dennis Kucinich, Bernie Sanders, and a handful of others who put principle above power.
So call me a sonofabitch if you want. But we gave Dems a chance, now we have to hold their feet to the fire: loudly, clearly, and consistently, even if it means agreeing with a snark, as distasteful as that might seem.
March 16th, 2007 at 10:27 am