A new Justice Dept. document dump
A new Justice Dept. document dump
appears to “clearly show that [Gonzales’ ex-chief of staff Kyle] Sampson attempted to mislead Congress by proxy — that is to say, he gave false information to DOJ officials who were preparing to provide information to Congress.” That’s illegal. But Sampson says it isn’t true, and he’s testifying under oath tomorrow.
UPDATE: TPMMuckraker and Tim Grieve have more.
UPDATE II: ABC has a copy of Sampson’s opening statement tomorrow. He denies responsibility for not telling Justice Dept. officials about White House involvement in the scandal, and says others in the Department knew as much as he did.
He maintains that the decision by the Administration to ask for their resignations is a “benign rather than sinister story.” …
When controversy erupted and Congress began to ask questions about the US Attorneys Sampson admits the Department’s response was mishandled through an “unfortunate combination of poor judgments, poor word choices, and poor communication.” He offers an apology to the US Attorneys for what became a “ugly, undignified spectacle.”
He says that he resigned for mistakes made “honestly and in good faith”. He writes, “I failed to organize a more effective response to questions about the replacement process, but I never sought to conceal or withhold any material fact about the matter from anyone.”
He writes that while “others in the Department knew what I knew about the origins and timing of this enterprise” that none of them spoke up on those subjects while preparing Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty.
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Unlike you, I’m non-partisan. I’m a registered Independent.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:46 pmKarly jr sincerely regrets getting caught. Like a good lil neocon shill.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm…”and he’s testifying under oath tomorrow.”
and probably taking the fifth.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pmJake, unlike you, I’m not American and cannot be registered anything. However, this DOJ thing looks like a scandal!
March 28th, 2007 at 5:51 pmwe’re all waiting with bated breath, kyle…
And, yes, I DO take it personally
March 28th, 2007 at 5:53 pmJake…always gets in the first comment to talk about himself. Why aren’t off-topic remarks deleted by TP?
March 28th, 2007 at 5:56 pmI think that’s a fakejake. Not only is it the same stupid comment on multiple threads, but the realjake hasn’t made an appearance today.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:58 pmTime for Miss Goodling to rethink her position as well. Kyle, do the correct thing and not the right thing. Bust this nut wide open.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pmHe can lie under oath because he’s already done so much illegal stuff already. MIght as well lie too. I’m sure he’s confident knowing that the Bush crime family will pardon him.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pmI should think it’s obvious that it isn’t Jake - whoever is posting those comments has posted them in almost every thread here today. Plus, it’s like - whatever…
March 28th, 2007 at 6:00 pmWhen I first glanced at the title I thought I read “Justice Department takes a dump…” “Well duh”, was my second thought.
If we believed the All Supreme Emperor, when would a scandal not be a scandal? It seems long beyond time for Gitmo Abu Gonzo to be gone!
If double talk lies thieving and cheating are ReichWingNut ChristoFascist values, I want all of them jailed until they learn right from wrong. Or learn bitch from husband. Or something like that.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:01 pmThat’s not Jake, some IDIOT is namejacking Jake and posting the same IDIOTIC post in every thread
Jake is a moron, but whoever is name jacking him needs to stop.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:02 pmSampson has gotten himself into some deep Doodoo
March 28th, 2007 at 6:07 pm“Sampson has gotten himself into some deep Doodoo
Comment by Wayne — March 28, 2007 @ 6:07 pm”
Yeah, but this law has hardly if ever been used……
I doubt the Congress will start using it now….
Though I wish they would!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:14 pmSampson looks like Dwight Shrute.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:18 pmThis has to be Clinton’s fault!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:18 pmYeah, but this law has hardly if ever been used……
Comment by RemoveBush
Last time it was used was in the Iran Contra scandel, I believe
•Robert McFarlane:
Former national security adviser. Pleaded guilty in 1988 to four counts of withholding information from Congress for his role in the Iran-contra affair. He was pardoned by President George H.W. Bush in late 1992.
•John Poindexter: Former national security adviser. Poindexter was convicted in 1990 of five counts of obstruction and false statements about the Iran-contra affair. Overturned on appeal.
•Oliver North: Former National Security Council staffer. Found guilty in 1989 of three counts of falsifying documents, receiving illegal gifts and obstruction in investigation of Iran-contra. Sentenced to two years of probation, community service and $150,000 fine. Convictions overturned on appeal.
•Elliott Abrams: Former assistant secretary of State. Pleaded guilty in 1991 to two counts of misleading Congress in Iran-contra affair. Sentenced to two years of probation and community service. Pardoned by President George H.W. Bush in 1992.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:23 pmNow it’s not unusual for Bush supporters to change their position as the Administration get caught in the lies and criminal acts. Now once Bush supporters are now calling themselves Independents. Just like Bush turned his back on Jack Abramoff and Duke Cunningham now the GOP are out to save themselves. There will be more scandals to come out as people talk and documents come to light. Not to worry most of the emails were done illegally by the NRC as if a terrorist needed information he wouldn’t have to go through Homeland Security. So much for National Security. As the GOP can’t get the money so the rats move on. Even the Saudi King turned Bush down for a dinner visit. The King knows the stealing spree is over. I’ve watch people like Chris Matthews talk like he never supported the GOP yet it’s all on video. He wants to save his job so he jumped ship as the White House goes down.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:27 pmChina May Lead Iraq Oil Race
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — China has sat out the Iraq war, but it could be the first to take advantage when the Iraqi government finishes a law opening up its oil fields to international companies.
The Iraqi oil legislation, expected to be approved by July, will open the door for the government to sign contracts for exploration and production of the country’s vast untapped reserves, a top U.S. priority. But since few Western companies are prepared to send equipment or crews into the war zone, it could take five years or more before they begin extracting big shipments of Iraqi crude.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:30 pmNew update at TMPMuckraker
Emails Show Statement on Rove Involvement Went Through White House
March 28th, 2007 at 6:30 pmWhat scandal?
March 28th, 2007 at 6:36 pm#21 That scandal! Get informed!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:40 pmThe prefix “mis” means wrong, bad, opposite, unfavorable, and suspicious. How can any action that is wrong et al, be “honest and in good faith.” I suspect another of the rethug oxy family of morons.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:41 pmIf the moonbats call it a scandal does that make it a scandal? Or does something actually have had to happen that is or might be illegal?
And if the crazies didn’t have this to harp on what else could they talk about? Bribery for votes in the House and Senate by Pelosi and Ried? Nah
300?
March 28th, 2007 at 6:43 pmTITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 47 > § 1001 - Wayne, the Bush administration has violated each provision..so technically, if the indictment is for “perjury” or “obstruction of justice,” the violation of this statute would be an ADDITIONAL fine and imprisonment not to exceed between 5-8 years to whatever the penalty would be for the applicable charges.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pmPatsie, your pants are down and the web cam is on. That scandal.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:44 pmah you libtards…
these are political appointments which can also be fired for political reasons.
stop spewing the left wing talking points. You poor sheeps of the left.
Lott put Feinstein in her place over the weekend when he told her that these where political appointments that could also be fired for political reasons.
poor, old Feinstien didn’t know how to respond, she looked like an old hack that had been put in her place.
your poor liberals, so desperate, so hateful, so full of vile and venom.
i pity you children of the left. I would pray for you, but you guys may start melting and I am a compassionate conservative. hahahahahahaha!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…..
you kids are funny…
now keep on posting for my amusement, post so I may laugh at each and everyone one of you, you poor sheeps of the left….
March 28th, 2007 at 6:46 pmThis is way overblown, and causing me a lot of grief. Mi Jefe is not even returning my calls. You can read about it on my personal blog.
http://albertogonzalesblog.blogspot.com
Best,
Al G.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:47 pmOnce they start offering desperate assurances of how honest and ethical they are, it means they have no plausible defense.
B U S T E D ! ! !
March 28th, 2007 at 6:48 pmHay caramba!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:49 pmI guess the sun must have gone down somewhere, because the cockroach trolls have emerged, blinking and stupid, into the waning light.
I had a cat once that tasted a cockroach and spat it out. I bet trolls taste just as bad.
Back to your stupid video games, trolls! Back, I say!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:50 pmWell, gee, Patrick, if over half of America thinks its a scandal, is it a scandal?
March 28th, 2007 at 6:50 pmGeez…..
There’s almost so much going on everyday! :-)
Gotta catch up…
March 28th, 2007 at 6:55 pmCan someone say ‘Scapegoat’? Baaaa.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:56 pmIf the trolls don’t hold the same opinion as the majority of Americans, does that make every single one of their posts just a waste of space on this blog, a waste of electricity at their mom’s house, a waste of their mom’s bandwidth and a waste of bandwidth in general on the Internet?
March 28th, 2007 at 6:57 pmHere, let me fix this for you.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:58 pmComment by howsad
Do you have even one link to a reputable source for any of the insane drivel you posted?
March 28th, 2007 at 6:58 pmDidn’t think so…
How sad that you are such a fscking moron.
nostromo,
who cares what half of the country thinks….do you do things in your life according to how popular they are? you poor libtards….
not to mention that people get most of their news from the left wing press that hates Bush and misinforms and lies…..
I mean if libtards are told that they are smart over an dover and over and over again you little ones may start believing it, right?
the same way, if every day, night after night, hour after hour the news reports lies and more lies about Bush that making him look bad, what the hell do you think people are going to believe?
your poor sheeps, start thinking on your own, you may yet start sounding like intelligent people and not like poor, uneducated libtards.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:59 pmAnd it is at this point that I would say that I have never met a republican that either wants to play video games or is smart enough to play video games.
Video games actually make you have to think about what you are doing. These trolls have a hard enough time watching fox and drinking Coors Light swill beer at the same time. Throw NASCAR into the mix and they have to operate the remote while trying to drink swill beer and listen to two things at once.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:01 pmwayne,
aren’t you suppose to be an “intelligent” libtard, yes oxymoron done on purpose….
do your own homework, step away from the left wing blogs and left wing talking points and you will see the light and you will be shocked to find out that the left has been lying to you…
once again, these were political appointments that can be fired for political reasons.
you libtards are so dumb….i pity you children of the left….although I don’t worry, the left will abort itself into extintion….. BWAHAHAHAHA!!!
March 28th, 2007 at 7:02 pmComment by impeachcheneythenbush
Yeah, that is correct, the penalty is per charge.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:03 pm#1—- Unlike you, I’m non-partisan. I’m a registered Independent.
Comment by Jake — March 28, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Oh, give it a rest, Jake…………
You and Bill O’Reilly have made that same claim………. and, needless to say– it was no more plausible coming from his disingenuous ass that it is coming from yours.
And, furthermore— I am not registered with ANY political party. But, rest assured— I will NEVER be voting Republican…….. not after what the GOP has shown me over the past couple of decades.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:04 pmhowsad is here showing off his GED. Only six tries….
March 28th, 2007 at 7:04 pm#38,
who cares what half of the country thinks….do you do things in your life according to how popular they are? you poor libtards….
Do you know what “democracy” means?
March 28th, 2007 at 7:07 pmIf the moonbats call it a scandal does that make it a scandal?—–Comment by Patrick1
No more than your obvious willingness to bury your head in the sand makes “reality” not REAL.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:07 pmComment by howsad
who cares what half of the country thinks
For you, it depends on which half of the country it is!
March 28th, 2007 at 7:08 pmComment by howsad
The “talking points” as you call them, that I posted were Facts and US law.
Unlike you who cannot even put up one link to back up your assertions.
Anyone reading the posts can see the difference and who the real moron is.
Look in the mirror and you shall find that moron. =)
March 28th, 2007 at 7:09 pmSo I went and found the transcript of the Feinstein/Lott round table howsad mentions. Nowhere in it does Lott lay the smack down on Feinstein.
Here, take a look. Don’t worry, I found it on a different site than Fox, so your eyes won’t bleed.
What howsad considers ‘putting somebody in their place’ is actually Lott interrupting Feinstein.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:13 pmNope, we have always been right. It is the rest of the country that we have woken up to your lies.
Welcome back to reality America.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:15 pmi predicted yesterday that Gonzo would go for the race card next.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pmseems like Rush went there yesterday.
People, don’t let the friggin trolls get away with what you are letting them get away with.
Almost three quarters of the country considers the DoJ issue a scandal and want investigations. Not half. Don’t say half even if the trolls do. State three quarters or the real number 72%.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:18 pmWhat percentage want “show trials”?
March 28th, 2007 at 7:22 pm28% (go figure) think this is a show trial
72% do not think this is a show trial.
In a democracy like we have in America, the majority rules, therefore it IS NOT a show trial, no matter how much trolls want it to be.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:28 pmCNN sez:
Sampson plans to throw folks under a bus. He plans to say the firings were for political reasons.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:31 pm“Show trials?” Where does that come from?
Oh yeah, that’s what the Republicans would have done to Clinton.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:32 pm#52 - another example of a paid operative. Typical “Bush” employee…able to repeat talking points, unable to think anything original. You (and yours) confuse Congressional oversight and investigations with “trials.” Trials WILL probably follow, but they won’t be for “show.”
March 28th, 2007 at 7:33 pmCan’t wait to see how Josh and team note this one. It is so hard to tell any longer, but is he saying he was ordered to do what he did, and happily did so in his non denial confirmation?
He seems to confirm he gave bad info to mcNutly, but claims he didn’t because others knew and didn’t tell mcNutly that he knew that they knew or that anyone but the people that he told knew. Since mcNutly is either lying, or stupid ( and not ignorant) of this matter, it just gets even more strained.
would an ER physician or police officer, that would chime in on this guess on my part: are they presenting with symptoms of amphetamine abuse? They seem to be tweakers (meth abusers) that have come under extreme stress causing episodes of paranoia and other issues due to rise in blood pressure and other acute environmental causes? They are really creating wild excuses for denying what their job requirements would lay out for them about what is legal. Are they being ordered to say all these things and are okay with it? knowing they are breaking laws the president can’t fix for them? I ask about the denial, as they seem almost as though they are under control of someone that has them convinced they are ruling by divine guidance and can do no wrong. We know this is a joke to the leaders, we have heard their jokes about the religious base. But it is something that they might use to try to retain illegal control via their admitted treasonous acts?
March 28th, 2007 at 7:36 pmSampson plans to throw folks under a bus. He plans to say the firings were for political reasons.
Comment by ForTruth
I expect to see more and more of this. Frickin’ busses are going to need cow-catchers.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:38 pmThat really doesn’t answer how many want “show trials” but since someone else brought up “oversight”:
Precedent shows that it takes especially heavy interests to outweigh even those interests of the Executive that are only implicitly protected by the Constitution. See, e.g., United States v. Nixon, 418 U.S. at 713 (allowing in camera review of executive communications only because of a “demonstrated, specific need for evidence in a pending criminal trialâ€). The D.C. Circuit has indicated just how substantial Congress’s interests need to be to warrant disclosure of executive materials. In Senate Select Comm. on Presidential Campaign Activities v. Nixon, 498 F.2d 725 (D.C. Cir. 1974) (en banc), the D.C. Circuit, sitting en banc, refused to enforce a congressional subpoena for the Watergate tapes. In doing so, the court recognized the “great public interest in maintaining the confidentiality of conversations that take place in the President’s performance of his official duties.†Id. at 729. The court said that interest could “be defeated only by a strong showing of need by another institution of government — a showing that the responsibilities of that institution cannot responsibly be fulfilled without access to records of the President’s deliberations.†Id. at 730. Applying that standard, the court concluded that a congressional committee’s desire to satisfy its legislative responsibilities and its purported “oversight power,†was insufficient to overcome the President’s paramount interest. See id. at 732-733. Thus, Congress lost because it could not demonstrate that the subpoenaed evidence was “demonstrably critical to the responsible fulfillment†of its appropriate functions. Id. at 731.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:38 pm#52,
The same percentage that acknowledge that we invaded Iraq based on falsehoods, deception, and evil motives but that it is important to let the cogs of our political machinery rotate around a few millions times so that we can figure out a way to leave while continuing to show support for our “troops”.
You know, the “troops” who are almost exclusively made up of our lower middle-class and poverty stricken sons and daughters? The ones that we directed to murder innocent men, women, and children. The ones that we sent in with plenty of bullets, but little if any armor.
Yes, the same percentage who think that we’ve reached some form of enlightenment by passing non-binding timetables (yes, it is non-binding) through congress attached to a bill that funds more bullets, bombs, and god knows whatever other tools of murder that we will then direct our “troops” to slaughter more innocent men, women, and children with.
In other words, a large percentage.
I know I hear fiddles, but does anyone else smell smoke?
March 28th, 2007 at 7:42 pmFeinstein said it was “binding” but, either way, I doubt there’s a large percentage who want us to surrender in Iraq.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:47 pmIs it a bigger scandal?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/ news/ printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54861
March 28th, 2007 at 7:52 pmI know I hear fiddles, but does anyone else smell smoke?
Comment by Tuber
My smoke alarm is ringing….
March 28th, 2007 at 7:52 pm#53-Spudge_Boy,
You are passionate and idealistically we are mostly in agreement, at least what I’ve seen, but these are show trials. In the end, a bunch of corrupt politicians and political operatives will be paraded before the public and ridiculed both in the halls of congress and here. And then Joe and Jane Citizen will shake their heads in disgust and make comments about how all politicians are corrupt, and then they will vote the next one into office.
Meanwhile, more people will be murdered in our name with our guns and bullets. And the only ones who will ever be charged with murder will be the poor souls that we brainwashed and sent over to wherever to do just that but were unfortunate enough to have a moment of insanity caught on video.
That’s the reality. But, hey, on with the show.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:53 pm#61-David,
Surrender to who?
March 28th, 2007 at 7:57 pmThe enemy. I thought this was about Kyle Sampson anyways?
March 28th, 2007 at 8:00 pmFeinstein said it was “binding†but, either way, I doubt there’s a large percentage who want us to surrender in Iraq.
Comment by David — March 28, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
You don’t “surrender” an occupation. You either stay or leave. There is no such thing as “winning” at this point. We already won. Remember Bush saying “Mission accomplished”? There is no war. Now we are an occupation force.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:17 pmTuber,
I agree with most things you have to say, but in this instance I don’t believe these are show trials. I think Bush got rid of people that he appointed after they started looking to deep into his buddies. That is against the law.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:17 pmThe enemy. I thought this was about Kyle Sampson anyways?
Comment by David — March 28, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
See how vague you can be about this? We just say “the enemy” without really saying who they are. And then change the subject since there really is no good answer.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:19 pm“I doubt there’s a large percentage who want us to surrender in Iraq.”
way to use dishonest language to prolong a war that you aren’t fighting in. the only folks who want us to stay in iraq are the sunnis and the oil executives. which one are you?
March 28th, 2007 at 9:12 pmthis administration’s credibility problem is a virus that has spread throughout the upper level of the justice department. awesome.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:16 pmComment by David — March 28, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
David,
I want you to know that Republican operatives like you make me sick. You are morally and intellectually bankrupt. You can come here and talk a tough game, and even throw in some policy wonk boilerplate, but I know that you are badly shaken. Your party is going down, and going down hard. Even if your guy Bush crawls his way to the finish line, he will destroy your party doing so. Look for mega-losses for the GOP in 2008, and jail terms for quite a few of the gang.
F*** you, David, and I really mean that.
March 28th, 2007 at 9:20 pm“benign and not sinister”—-LIKE Tony Snow’s METASTASIZED CANCER, MALIGNANT AND NOT BENIGN? Sampson, CUT THE BULLSHIT AND SPILL THE BEANS, GET GONZO, CHIMPya, ALL THE CREEPS INVOLVED IN THIS ILLEGAL, LAWLESS AND CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY!!!!! BE AN HONEST AMERICAN FOR ONCE INSTEAD OF A SPOOK INVOLVED UP TO YA EYEBALLS IN THE FILTH SURROUNDING YA!!!!! TELL THE GODDAMN TRUTH AND IMPLICATE GONZO, CHIMPya AND THE REST OF Bushland Uber Allies—IT’S THE AMERICAN THING TO DO AS OPPOSED TO THOSE FASCIST-NAZIS YOU WOULD BE TURNING IN!!!!!
March 29th, 2007 at 12:03 amThe evidence with respect to John McKay in Washington state and David Iglesias in New Mexico is copious and overwhelming.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:35 amThey were fired because Republicans in their states were angry they weren’t seeking indictments against Democrats over bogus claims of voter fraud.
-Josh Marshall