Ashcroft: I was not pushed out, my departure was ‘voluntary.’
Ashcroft: I was not pushed out, my departure was ‘voluntary.’
Earlier this week, the Dallas Morning News released an interview with former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, who stated that former Attorney General John Ashcroft was “pushed out” of the Bush Administration because he “refused to sign off on the warrantless wiretaps.” Iglesias said that “had Ashcroft done the wrong thing, the unconstitutional thing, and signed off on it, he’d probably still be the AG.”
During a hearing today before the House Judiciary Committee, Ashcroft denied Iglesias’ account, telling Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), “My departure was a decision of my own. It was a decision I made. It was voluntary.”
Watch it:
Ashcroft refused to answer further questions about his departure saying, “I’m not a book writer like so many other people are. I have written books, but they’re not very interesting,” a likely reference to Scott McClellan’s tell-all book about the administration.
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July 17th, 2008 at 1:09 pmThat’s what happens when you don’t dance…
July 17th, 2008 at 1:11 pmTypo alert. I’ve sent an email.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:12 pmDumb Question: even if pushed out, wouldn’t Ashcroft have many reasons to say the same thing ? (possible embarassment at being pushed out, possibly not wanting to embarass the WH, etc.)
July 17th, 2008 at 1:17 pmPushed, more like over a cliff. Too bad Johnny, but your nipples are showing..
July 17th, 2008 at 1:18 pmTP, I noted this the first time this story was featured, but David Iglesias did not “state” that Ashcroft was pushed out.
He was asked his opinion on the likelihood of that scenario and he confirmed that, in his opinion, it appeared that it was the case.
This is the kind of liberty with the truth that we expect from the Right wing, not from TP.
Please knock it off. Please try to adhere to a higher standard of truthfulness.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pmOh, and Johnny, watch out for those falling anvils and such.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pmhiding information much?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pmWho cares whether he was fired or left voluntarily?!? The guy was awful in the job even if those who followed were even worse. Being the most ethical AG in the Bush administration is like being the tallest building in North Dakota — something not worth bragging about.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:22 pmIt’s my opinion that Ashcroft is a liar.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:22 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
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Please knock it off. Please try to adhere to a higher standard of truthfulness.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
I agree. There’s enough of that crap in the Corporate Media.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:25 pmHow much is the Just-us department paying Ashcroft (via one of thoe lovely no-bid contracts) to oversee some settlement agreement the government struck with some entity? Bet it’s more than an AG makes….
July 17th, 2008 at 1:27 pmLittle Johnny Asscrapped — faithful to the end. And the end is near.
What more could you expect from a guy whose biggest claim to fame is that he lost a Congressional election to a dead guy?
July 17th, 2008 at 1:28 pmHow much is the Just-us department paying Ashcroft (via one of thoe lovely no-bid contracts) to oversee some settlement agreement the government struck with some entity? Bet it’s more than an AG makes….
And probably the reason he made that statement. More CBA (Cover Bush’s Ass) strategy.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:32 pmThe really ironic part is that Asshat is from the Show-Me state.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:08 pmWell since he has admitted his memory is unreliable, how does he know he left voluntarily?
July 17th, 2008 at 2:51 pmYes, yes, ri-i-i-i-i-i-ght, whatever you say.
Of course I believe you!! Why, of course I do. No question.
Really. Truly.
.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm.
.
.
Well, actually…NOT.
He also adhered to the Repuke talking points with honor – If Yoo said it, waterboarding does not constitute torture…we don’t torture we use enhanced interrogation techniques…we have managed to stop many additional attacks that we might have been facing if we didn’t interrogate with these techniques…doesn’t really know if things would be better off if there had been a bipartisan effort to work out how to handle prisoners…And the beat goes on!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pmThe statement by David Iglesias was his opinion. But, Ashcroft’s statements on his hospital bed to Gonzo and others witnessed by Comey that he refused to sign off on the wiretapping bill and that he was no longer the AG was a sign that he was going to be replaced.
And Ashcroft’s tap dancing over the issue on whether he left voluntary showed his Ashcroft’s face during his testimony with Sanchez. And if course, he is covering his butt since he is still in the back pocket of Bush. His company is certainly not hurting financially. And Ashcroft certainly recused himself in the leak investigation quickly when he knew that Rove and Libby were heavily involved in leaking a CIA covert identity.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pmAshcroft: “I’d love to tell you more but then Dick Cheney would take me on a hunting trip”.
July 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pmsoar! soar!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:01 pmeagle eagle
the the
let let
and
Hey, Johnny – aren’t there some nekkid statues somewhere that need covering up…?
July 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pmWhere the Eagles soar
July 17th, 2008 at 5:05 pmAnd the turkeys fall
.
What privilege does the People’s Attorney General assert that keeps private the discussion of influencing factors?
.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:34 am“Voluntary” as in “Not dragged outdurs by two armed guards by force”
July 18th, 2008 at 7:25 am