Mukasey Refuses To Prosecute Officials Who Politicized DOJ: ‘Negative Publicity’ Is Sufficient Punishment
Mukasey Refuses To Prosecute Officials Who Politicized DOJ: ‘Negative Publicity’ Is Sufficient Punishment
When Attorney General Michael Mukasey testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) pressed him on how he would hold accountable the people who politicizing the Justice Department’s internship and Honors programs. Mukasey stumbled over his words and attempted to dodge the question, eventually admitting that nothing would happen to them since many of them had already left the department. Watch it:
In a speech today before the American Bar Association (ABA), Mukasey was more explicit in his rejection of any sort of review or prosecution, saying that the “negative publicity” they faced was enough:
That does not mean, as some people have suggested, that those officials who were found by the joint reports to have committed misconduct have suffered no consequences. Far from it. The officials most directly implicated in the misconduct left the Department to the accompaniment of substantial negative publicity. … To put it in concrete terms, I doubt that anyone in this room would want to trade places with any of those people.
Mukasey also reiterated that these former employees were not found to be in violation of any criminal laws. They did, however, violate civil service laws. A joint report by the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility found that in particular, Michael Elston, formerly the chief of staff to the Deputy Attorney General, “violated federal law and Department policy” by selecting candidates based on their political affiliations.
Clearly, the Bush administration seems to be betting that it will be able to escape any accountability for its misdeeds once it leaves office. In the meantime, officials are just running out the clock.
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If “negative publicity” is sufficient punishment, then shouldn’t we let all the detainees in Gitmo go free? After all, they will be punished by “negative publicity” if we just publish all their names…
August 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pmThis administration feeds on negative publicity – it’s their lifeblood. This “punishment” is like catching your teenager sneaking a puff and then making him smoke the entire carton of cigarettes.
August 12th, 2008 at 12:59 pmWhy not stop prosecuting murderers since most of them wind up on the front page of my paper? Isn’t bad publicity enough?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pmMukasey: The officials most directly implicated in the misconduct left the Department to the accompaniment of substantial negative publicity
Man. “Tough on crime” sure ain’t what it used to be, huh?
Like “having to go through a trial and be convicted” was punishment enough for Scooter Libby’s obstruction of justice. Those hard-ass Republicans…
August 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pmIs Mukasey expecting me to believe that “negative publicity” is hampering the job search of any of these former Bushbots?
When he can name ANYONE connected with this administration whose life or career has been ruined by “negative publicity”, I might give that theory some credence. However, it seems that everybody has gone on to cushy lobbying jobs, consultants in the private sector, and even media jobs.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:01 pmThe fruits of a Democrat Congress. Well done. Everyone knew Mukasey was worthless but they still voted for him. Who’s worse for the country – obvious liars like the Republicans or obvious cowards like the Democrats. Well done.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pmMukasey is another stooge…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
August 12th, 2008 at 1:03 pmSo, by the same logic, I can cheat on m taxes, leave the US for a few years and not have to worry about consequences when I come back?
How are Republicans so moral?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:03 pmoh, i’m so glad they didn’t violate criminal laws, we might have never heard about it. but, one question, what is the stated penalty for violating those pesky little civil service laws?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:03 pmGreat! why don’t we just throw out the rule of law altogether, because it appears that as long as you are the president — or work for him in his name — then everything is just hunky-dory — unless, of course you have “Democrat” as your party affiliation.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:04 pmI should mention, that the Attorney General is SUPPOSED to be working for the American PUBLIC, not the President or his party.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pmIOKIYAR
Republican’ts are hardly ever held accountable for crimes, the Bush Crime Family does not see Republican’ts crimes as crimes, they are just doing party business, like good little Nazi’s.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:07 pmHe said this in front of the American Bar Association. Why did the assembled attorneys not tar and feather him?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:08 pmThis is the same argument I tried to make to the judge on that whole P.I. thing… Oh never mind…
August 12th, 2008 at 1:08 pmJebus – ain’t *that* a ginormous, smelly load of bullshit???
August 12th, 2008 at 1:10 pmYou’ve got a point, but the ideological gymnastics required to blame Mukasey and the lawlessness of BushCo on a “Democrat Congress” could land qualify you for the Bejing Olympics.
Kudos on the correct use of “Democrat Congress” however. It’s always so disappointing when trolls use the grammatically correct “Democratic” when used as an adjective.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pmSo these law-breaking lawyers won’t even face disbarment? Even Clinton lost his right to practice over his “crime”. At the very least Monica Goodling should be barred from ever practicing law again.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:12 pmMukasey stumbled over his words and attempted to dodge the question, eventually admitting that nothing would happen to them since many of them had already left the department.
So the nation’s leading law enforcement officer refuses to enforce the law. Clearly there’s no difference betweem Mukasey and and the disgraced Gonzales.
That does not mean, as some people have suggested, that those officials who were found by the joint reports to have committed misconduct have suffered no consequences. Far from it.
Please…Bush loyalists are virtually always handsomely rewarded. Even those who aren’t consider it an honor to fall on their swords for the party.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 12th, 2008 at 1:13 pmThen why even have a DOJ stupid hypocrite??????
Just let the “negative press” be their sentence, right?
DO your Job, motherfcukers.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:14 pmI wonder if Mukasey is at all embarrassed by what he has become. If not, he should be. He should also be disbarred.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pmI’m wondering if he’s got a list of federal crimes for which bad publicity will serve in lieu of actual prosecution. I’d like to know where I stand before I decide to break a federal law so I know whether or not it involves actual accountability.
I’m also wondering what the reaction of the assembled lawyers was. They should have booed him off the stage, but I suppose that’s too much to hope for…
August 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pmSchumer! I AM holding you responsible for everything this clown does and does not do.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:17 pmso here is muckasey’s standard for optimal performance from the DOJ:
“nobody in the DOJ is breaking any criminal laws”
really high standards there!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:21 pmHard to believe that The DOJ could find someone worse to run it than AG.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pmSchumer and Feinstein should be publicly stoned for their role in his appointment.
ralph the wonder llama Says:
I’m not blaming the Congress – just DiFi and Chuckie Shumer. Thank you, you two! You did a GREAT job restoring DoJ back from the damage Fredo Gonzales did to it.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:24 pmLibertyLover Says
August 12th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I should mention, that the Attorney General is SUPPOSED to be working for the American PUBLIC, not the President or his party.
________________________________________
Hahahahaha — what a quaint concept! I suppose you also think that the DoJ has something to do with “justice”! Or that the U.S. Constitution is something more than just a g*d-d*mned piece of paper!
/snark off
August 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pmgummitch Says:
“He said this in front of the American Bar Association. Why did the assembled attorneys not tar and feather him?”
Why hasn’t MuKasey been dis-barred? Isn’t the top lawyer in the Nation supposed to respect and uphold ALL of the laws of this Nation? What has this Orwellian sicophant done since his swearing in to deserve his title or salary? Oh yeah, he’s serving at the President’s pleasure. Well, at least George Bush must be pleased. The American public who pay his salary in expectation of his upholding the law…not so much. The next time the Idiot in Chief mentions the “do nothing” Congress maybe someone should point out his do-nothing Justice Dept. Or his do-nothing Head of State Condi Awol Rice. Truly sickening. I hope that Mukasey is keenly aware that when the next Administration starts cleaning up George’s mess, a bright light will also be shown on Mr. Mukasey’s inaction and complicity.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:28 pmNo argument there, robbez.
If Mukasey had been the first nominee of a new president, I can see giving him the benefit of the doubt, or making a nod to bipartisan cooperation.
BushCo had long since exhausted their reserve of “benefit of the doubt” and Shumer and DiFi had to have known that there was never any intention of Mukasey performing any differently than he has thus far.
I’m ashamed of having DiFi as my senator.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:29 pmDoes this mean the victims can’t file civil suits?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:29 pmWow!! and I thought Ashcroft and Gonzales were tools.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:30 pmExcellent point, missmolly.
In fact, if the media careers of such Republican luminaries as G. Gordon Liddy, Bill Bennett and Tom Delay are any indication, “negative publicity” actually seems to enhance their job prospects.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:35 pmi’m curious what the aba response was. did any of the participants question/denounce/challenge mukasey and the bushies for the contempt for democratic governance and the rule of law.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:38 pmLet these fools continue doing what they’re doing. Just a few more months, and we’ll see a democratic administration (hopefully) come in and clean house. I always thought Edwards would be a good AG, but with this affair nonsense, he’s most likely out. So then who would be a good AG? Someone who will come in and spank some serious bushite anus?
August 12th, 2008 at 1:39 pmEver work out a notice when leaving a job for a better one? It is always hard to apply yourself to be productive in the last few days. This bunch knows they are working out their notices. They don’t expect McSame to get elected, either.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:42 pmI’ve got two suggestions, both of them Republicans:
Patrick Fitzgerald
or
James Comey
August 12th, 2008 at 1:43 pmDoes anyone still think that we’re a nation of laws which no one is above? Violating the law is not necessarily a crime? What? No, it’s not a third grader saying this, it’s the US Attorney General. WTF! What’s the point of the laws or a Dept. of Justice for that matter if everyone (in your political association) is immune from any consequence? How pathetic.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pmYup, as someone once said (someone getting negative publicity I might add) . . . there are two Americas . . . and two systems of justice. What a terrible career end for Mukasey — I’m sure the guy’s done some good (not great) things in his life, but he’ll be remembered as a punchline to the Monica Goodling joke.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pmApparently in this current government the biggest crime one can commit is being a Democrat!
160 days left before fumigation of the White House begins. Ms. Pelosi, you could expedite that date.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:45 pm‘not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime.’
violation of the law = a law breaker
law breakers = criminals
criminals = people who commit crimes
people who commit crimes = criminal prosecution
criminal prosecution and conviction = justice being served
The highest law enforcement officer in our country does not know what laws are for. Nor does he recognize what kind of activities constitute law-breaking. Why does this man have the job of the highest law enforcement officer in the country if he is ignorant of these basic principles?
Just saying . . .
August 12th, 2008 at 1:46 pmcitizen_pain at 1:39 pm
I’d hate to be the sucker that gets left off the pre-emptive pardon list!
August 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pmI am sure that the negative publicity keeps them up at night. And their guilty conscience is punishment.
Can you imagine the guilt that Boy George will carry with him until he dies? How many lives were lost in Bush’s War? How many human beings will go through life crippled and brain damaged for his petty ego? He is the direct cause of the loss of USA honor. The trillions wasted?
I am sure Laura feels him toss and turn at night, tormented by the demons in his soul.
Ok, reality check. That bastard has no soul, he sleeps like a baby knowing that he did his Father’s bidding.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
I’m ashamed of having DiFi as my senator.
Same here, Ralph. I’ve heard rumours that she may be running for Governator next.
Great. Just freaking *great* >:o(
August 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pmSoon they will be known by their knicknames.
muggsy mukasy and two fingers cheny
August 12th, 2008 at 1:58 pmLeftside Annie Says
August 12th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I’ve heard rumours that she (Dianne Feinstein) may be running for Governator next.
_________________________________________________________
I don’t think you have to worry. DiFi is 75 years old and she said she’s ready to retire.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:01 pmThank heaven for small favors, MissM!
~A
August 12th, 2008 at 2:05 pmMukasey isn’t exactly a wordsmith, eh?
We’ve got an AG who considers ‘negative pubicity’ punishment enough.
We’ve got Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs in the Treasury.
GS has made billions in oil futures speculation, & can be thanked, at least partially, for $4 / gal gas.)
Goldman Sachs gave each employee at Christmas, ‘06 over $600,000 for Christmas ‘bonuses’. Nice.
I could elaborate, but you get the picture.
The Fox is in the Henhouse, with blood & feathers everywhere.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:12 pmThe two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor that we have a democracy, and second, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we get it. [1941]
August 12th, 2008 at 2:16 pm-Edward Dowling
well, osama, the negative publicity over the 9-11 thing is punishment enough so you can go. have a nice life.
good to see the “rule of law” and “party of personal responsibility” is still alive and well!
August 12th, 2008 at 2:18 pmpublic shaming is the newest penalty in the penal code?
there are over 2,000,000 people in american prisons and jails who would like their prosecutors to have used such a standard.
could someone explain which violations of the law are not crimes?
August 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pmAugust 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Remember the scene is “A Christmas Story” when Ralphie’s teacher says something like “I know the shame you feel is worse than any punishment I could give you.” Ralphie then smirks for the camera and the narrator says “Grown-ups were always saying stuff like that, but every kid knows it’s better to get to away with it.”
August 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pmLet’s see if the cops will accept that line of argument if I ever get picked up for something. I’m guessing………no.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
When can (Mukasey) name ANYONE connected with this administration whose life or career has been ruined by “negative publicity”, I might give that theory some credence. However, it seems that everybody has gone on to cushy lobbying jobs, consultants in the private sector, and even media jobs.
Well, last I heard, Alberto Gonzales hadn’t “caught on” anywhere. I suppose he could be the exception that proves the rule.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:37 pmI can’t believe what has happened to this country.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:39 pmhttp://obamascrapbook.com/index.htm
Googlebomb it. Make it viral.
Inoculate Obama from the October swiftboats.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pmWhen you’ve got the AG in your pocket . .
and you’ve got the media in your pocket . .
then it’s not illegal when the president does it.
August 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pmComey or Fitz as possible AG. Despite being members of the GOP — the Grand Larceny Old Party. They both seem to have a little something the current gang lacks . . . character.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pmHow can we respect an AG whose very name, and every action, reminds one of SNOT???
August 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pmIt IS his job to prosecute those who violate the law without expressing his personal beliefs or moral judgments. It is NOT his job to determine what is or isn’t sufficient punishment. That is for a judge and a jury to decide!
August 12th, 2008 at 3:17 pmThere is no law
August 12th, 2008 at 3:18 pmCan’t the next AG choose to prosecute? Isn’t this just as delaying tactic to help Republicans in the upcoming elections? Isn’t this a political rather than legal decision?
August 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pmDOJ Inspector General’s Reports Online:
We are placing all of the OIG reports online in convenient form (not PDF). They load very rapidly and each page has its own highlighted copy/paste link for easy online citation:
The 2 recent reports on politicization of the DOJ hiring practices are linked from the front of our site. Direct links are:
Everything on our site is free and permanent.
Don
August 12th, 2008 at 3:24 pmI concur with comment #5. These individuals involved in the DOJ illegal hiring got very cushy jobs and prominent positions after they left the Justice Department. What Mukasey, more importantly, left out are careers, lives, and reputations of the individuals that were victims of this scandal were ruined and tarnished. So, “negative publicity” as punishment for the officials involved is not going to fly with the victims.
Mukasey will have to face more scrunity when the DOJ IG final reports of the U.S. Attorney firings and Civil Rights Division comes out. The real question to Mukasey is will “negative publicity” be sufficient punishment for those officials involved in those two reports? More importantly, memo to Mukasey: what message will you send to the fired U.S. Attorneys [as well as victims] that “served as the pleasure of the President?”
August 12th, 2008 at 3:32 pmCorrection:
“served at the pleasure of the President?”
August 12th, 2008 at 3:33 pmGimme a Break Says:
Comey or Fitz as possible AG. Despite being members of the GOP — the Grand Larceny Old Party. They both seem to have a little something the current gang lacks . . . character.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
No, no. no, a thousand times NO. No more Pukes in Govt, anywhere. Absolutely NO PUKES in an Obama cabinet. That’s be like putting Lie-berman on the ticket with Gore. The SOB’d be a mole-in-plain-sight. Shit, you can’t even trust Dims to vote right. I swear eternal enmity if the dumb phux name ANY pukes to positions of power…
August 12th, 2008 at 3:36 pmYou rock, Don:
August 12th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
#66 Token I disagree. Fitz would be the PERFECT choice for AG. It would be great to have a DOJ that wasn’t a complete sychophant.
It would be a smart move and probably keep them honest.
August 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm#42 nanlichi:
I am sure Laura feels him toss and turn at night, tormented by the demons in his soul.
Ok, reality check. That bastard has no soul, he sleeps like a baby knowing that he did his Father’s bidding.
Laura prolly sleeps in a different room. Condi, OTOH….
Cheers,
August 12th, 2008 at 3:43 pm“Not every violation of the law is a crime.” said Mukasey.
Definition:
August 12th, 2008 at 4:01 pmcrime [ kr?m ] (plural crimes) noun
1. illegal act: an action prohibited by law or a failure to act as required by law
2. illegal activity: activity that involves breaking the law
Another Bush appointee puts yet another nail in the coffin of justice.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pmBugliosi for AG!
August 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pmAnd if negative publicity is enough, why are we spending so much on prisons????
y’all must excuse me as I have to go out and rob a bank. I’m sure the good AG will let me keep the money and have no prison sentence as my picture in the paper will be extremely humiliating.
August 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pmAlthough Mukasey’s statement may be true that there was no violation of criminal law, there are consequences for violating Civil Services Law.
5 USC 1215 provides disciplinary actions for these violations administered by the Merit Systems Protection Board and include:
(3) A final order of the Board may impose disciplinary action consisting of removal, reduction in grade, debarment from Federal employment for a period not to exceed 5 years, suspension, reprimand, or an assessment of a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000.
The problem is that the OSC must investigate and file a complaint with Board, but Bush Crony Scott Bloch run OSC and they have refused to investigate.
I think we need to stop worrying about whether there was a “crime” as defined by statute and start asking whether there are civil actions available. I don’t think Goodling should go to jail, but she should pay a fine and at least be debarred from federal employment.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:36 pmDid ANYONE expect anything different from this?
August 12th, 2008 at 11:04 pmThis was part of the deal made to hire him. He never intended to do anything about this. At least they are going after Ricky Renzi.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:43 amI’ve said this before. Uncovering even one crime of the Bush Admin would open up a can of worms so big, and it would involve so many people, its just best to leave the lid on. The crime spree infected too many people. It became a group-think phenomena. Too vast to even be called a conspiracy. VIrtually everyone fell into it. Too disasterous to go after. Beyond the scope of any law enforcement agency.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:46 amA concern I have is that, What was in place prior to Mukasey putting in place these so called safeguards to prevent this discrimination that effects our lives and harms our Gov’t.??
Our Attny General cannot find any law that can be enforced on the criminals that abused their Positions of authority in the Peoples name? But he can find a reason to hold people as enemy combatants and torture them without knowing if they have information to give ?
This just gets worse as it goes along. How does Mukasey even qualify as Attorney General if he can’t prosecute political persecution from a Gov’t officail. he can’t even apply the EEOC ?
August 13th, 2008 at 2:43 amUm, looks like there’s a shortage of dictionaries at the White House. Perhaps we should send them some.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:15 amWe need to, especially, hand the A.G. one and ask him to look up the word ‘crime’.
Well then, if I get busted for speeding, I want to tell the cop he can’t give me a ticket, because it was penalty enough for me to be seen being pulled over by other people… OMG, it’s soooo embarrassing.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:21 amMaybe the Justice Department shouldn’t be a part of the Exec. Branch. Large, powerful organizations usually aren’t very effective at policing themselves. That does raise the question, what should they be a part of?
August 13th, 2008 at 10:28 pmI think the Bush administration is floating a trail balloon. When out of office they will say NO we dont have to go to the Hague to stand trial for war crimes, the bad publicity is punishment enough
August 14th, 2008 at 5:37 am