Leahy endorses ‘truth commission’ to investigate Bush DOJ abuses.
Leahy endorses ‘truth commission’ to investigate Bush DOJ abuses.
Today in a speech at Georgetown University, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said that he — like other congressional Democrats, such Rep. John Conyers (MI) and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Carl Levin (MI) — supports the idea of a “truth commission” to investigate abuses at the Department of Justice:
One path to that goal would be a reconciliation process, a truth commission. We could develop and authorize a person or group of people universally recognized as fair minded without any ax to grind. Their straightforward mission would be to find the truth. People would be told to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of conducting criminal indictments but to assemble the facts.
Indeed, such a process could involve subpoena powers and even the authority to obtain immunity from prosecutions for anything accept perjury in order to get to the full truth.
Leahy later added, “Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. And sometimes is the best way to move forward is to find out the truth, find out what happened. And we do that to make sure it never happens again.”
Transcript:
Many Americans feel we need to get to the bottom of what went wrong. I agree. We need to be able to read the page before we turn the page. We’ll work with the Obama administration to fix those parts of our government that went off course. The office of legal counsel to the Justice Department is one of those institutions that was highjacked. It must be restored. There has to be review and revision of the office’s legal work of the past eight years. So much of that work was kept secret.
Now, we have the — what is the best course for bringing a reckoning for the actions of the past eight years on everything from torture to illegal wiretapping? There are some who resist any effort to investigate the misdeeds of the recent past. Indeed, during the nomination hearing of Eric Holder some of my fellow senators on the other side of the aisle tried to extract a devil’s bargain from him in exchange for their votes; a commitment that he would not prosecute for anything that happened on President Bush’s watch.
That is a pledge no prosecutor should give. And Eric Holder did not give it. But because he did not, it accounts for some of the votes against him. That is not the example we should give in a country that believes in the rule of law and believes no one is above the law.
There are others who say the (inaudible) takes all of the next eight years or 15 or 20 years and divide this country and distract from the necessary priority of fixing the economy, we must prosecute past administration officials that lay down a marker.
And, of course, the courts are already considering, congressional subpoenas have been issued, and claims of privilege and legal immunities. And they will be, perhaps, for years.
I think there is another option. And I want to use this lecture as a chance to lay out that other option. You could probably call it a middle ground but a middle ground to find the truth. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and why. And the reason we do that is so that it will never happen again.
One path to that goal would be a reconciliation process, a truth commission. We could develop and authorize a person or group of people universally recognized as fair minded without any ax to grind. Their straightforward mission would be to find the truth. People would be told to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of conducting criminal indictments but to assemble the facts.
Indeed, such a process could involve subpoena powers and even the authority to obtain immunity from prosecutions for anything accept perjury in order to get to the full truth. Congress has already granted some immunity, over my objection, to those that facilitated warrantless wiretaps and those who conducted cruel interrogations.
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Commissions are where problem issues go to die. Let’s do something a litle bit more forceful so America understands fully what was done in our name. Maybe then, it won’t happen again.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pmBetter still, a special prosecuter, enforcing subpoenas, compelling chimpy officials to testify under oath without immunity.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pmthe best way to move forward is to find out the truth, find out what happened.
Americans must know what happened in our names… as soon as possible.
And we do that to make sure it never happens again.
YES!
February 9th, 2009 at 1:49 pmIt would be sweet justice if Leahy can finally tell Chimpy & Darth, Rove et. al. “To go cheney themselves.”
February 9th, 2009 at 1:50 pmI’m not interested in vengeance either, Sen Leahy. I’m interested in justice. Seriously, Americans are not so simple-minded that we don’t know the difference — most of us anyway.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pmLet’s detain bush first, imprison him for 6 years, then hold a kangaroo court and introduce secret evidence that denies him access to the charges against him.
Then assign him Monica Goodling…
February 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pmJust say NO to anything that gives Bush and Cheney any form of immunity!! Now is the time to step up and show Americans that we don’t have 2 systems of Justice, one for the Poor and one for the Rich and Powerful.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pm.
“Commissions” are convienient for a CONgress who refuses to take responsibility for their betrayal of trust in their absolute failure to support and defend the Constitution of the USA “FAITHFULLY, WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION”.
IT’S THEIR OATH OF OFFICE!!!
Q U E S T I O N:
What would a “COMMISSION” look like if it were about the CONgress’ abdication and dereliction of Duty? A revolution?
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February 9th, 2009 at 1:56 pmI think we need a ‘truth commission’ to investigate the entire eight years of the Bush presidency!
At the very least, it would counteract the historical revisionism currently underway (and which will be ongoing until all of the history textbooks contain the revised version of what Bush did – if we let them).
February 9th, 2009 at 1:57 pmWe could develop and authorize a person or group of people universally recognized as fair minded without any ax to grind.
No matter how neutral, republicans would find a way to make accusation of patisanship or ‘liberal’ influence
February 9th, 2009 at 1:58 pm.
The Revolution Will Not Be Telivised…
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February 9th, 2009 at 2:01 pmA documentary about political prosecutions is now posted on YouTube in three parts. The creators are in the process of interviewing legal experts and others prosecuted under the Bush administration to make this a full-length documentary.
Part one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8IBcNU34Q
Part two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9aJO8DKrss
Part three
February 9th, 2009 at 2:02 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ0cAst-Q-4
Thanks for that blast from the past, Max!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:05 pmUnless Leahy is prepared for backing up the findings of a Truth Commission with criminal indictments against those who committed crimes, such a commission would be a waste of Taxpayer dollars.
Our Constitution was attacked by the bush administration through willfull acts that subverted the rule of law. bush administration officials who broke the law, who violated their oaths, need to be held to account for their actions if there is any desire to restore the Constitution. Simply allowing the underlings to stand up and say “I broke the law,” while the perpetrators continue walking the greens at their country club golf courses won’t do.
Where’s the justice in locking up black drug addicts from America’s ghettos for a possession of a few dimes of crack, while those responsible for stealing the hundreds of billions of dollars no longer available to fund health care and education for our children go scott free?
February 9th, 2009 at 2:05 pmWould the same approach be acceptable with the Mafia or any other organized crime cabal? I mean, seriously, that is what we just witnessed – eight years of crime spree with impunity.
Yes, we’d all like to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, but we’d also like to see justice prevail. If laws were broken, punishment must be sought.
There are no “soft laws” for the rest of us. What makes this group different?
PEACE
February 9th, 2009 at 2:05 pmAh. Wonderful. After that, they can draft some Sternly Worded Letters about what awful things those naughty boys did.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:06 pmIf the truth commission uncovers crimes we need prosecutions. That is what the law is for. If we don’t hold people accountable for their actions they will do it again or someone will realize they can get away with the very same crime.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:06 pm“Leahy endorses ‘COVERUP AND BURY commission’ to investigate Bush DOJ abuses SO THAT THEY NEVER REALLY COME TO LIGHT”
There, a more “Truthful” version.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:06 pm“Leahy endorses ‘COVERUP AND BURY commission’ to investigate Bush DOJ abuses SO THAT THEY NEVER REALLY COME TO LIGHT”
There, a more “Truthful” version.
yup…nobody in Congress wants what REALLY happened to be revealed…
February 9th, 2009 at 2:08 pmGood headline, Buckie Boy
February 9th, 2009 at 2:09 pmIt’s not like we don’t know what happened.
That much was pretty obvious from the start.
What we need now are trials, convictions, and sentences, long, long ling sentences…
Nagahapun, of course.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmLeahy endorses ‘truth commission’
Those are some stern words. Just what I would expect. And nothing more.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmActually, I’m a fair minded person and I’m all for a little vengeance.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmNo. No. No. Truth commissions are for situations like the fight between the Hutu and the Tutsi, where two large groups of people go crazy and start slaughtering each other. In that situation, so many people are guilty that it is necessary to reconcile the groups in order to stop the violence.
This is a cabal—a small group of criminals whose crimes can be enumerated. NO RECONCILIATION. We do not need to reconcile ourselves with a criminal government. Prosecute. Condemn.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:12 pmThe Bush Truth Commission Project
February 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pmAre we to understand that this so called “Truth Commission” is to be held in lieu of prosecution if prosecution is required?
Without the threat of prosecution, there is no motivation to uncover and shake loose the whole truth.
Without the threat of just prosecution, future corrupt leadership will simply apply “Ford Pinto” accounting principles and calculate the risks to the masses – not to themselves.
America can’t afford any more “For every one person that catches us, there are 99 more that don’t” philosophy. That philosophy is morally bankrupt and anti-American and any lawmaker that allows it is a coward in that act of betraying their oath.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pm.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said:
Dear Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
Ask Congressman John Conyers how well asking people to come forward is working out. Got Meyers, Rove, Bolton? Nope! And I fear that your “Johnny – come – lately” approach would do just that. Not because they have much to hide, but because you aren’t for enforcement of the law. See, without consequences, or more directly, your defiance of supporting and defending the Constitution, and flaunting Justice all together by suggesting that people will not be held responsible for acts against the Republic, Her Laws and Constitution, you’re nothing but IMPOTENT!!!!
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February 9th, 2009 at 2:15 pmWe already had a process run “without any axe to grind.” But if it found that someone committed a crime, then they’d be convicted of it. It was called a trial. Now the Republicans treat any system (even trials) as biased unless it promises first that it will have no consequences.
If their process does find that specific people committed specific crimes and then fails to apply any consequences to them, then it is biased.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:18 pmI love this guy!!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:19 pmThese people calling for “truth” (what the hell is that, we havent had truth in Washington in years) commissions and blah, blah, blah, so we can get down to what happened so that they never happen again, are only running for cover.
They are ALL complicit in the crimes which they seek to smooth over (you can count on 2 fingers those who are not). So Sir take that BS somewhere else. I have been brought up to learn that those who play by the rules eventually get rewarded, even though it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, and those who break the law will be brought to justice. They only people who seem to be brought to justice or investigated these days are those accused of doing steroids.
Maybe we should get baseball writers to investigate Congress (I’m bull_hitting, theyr’re just as spineless) but this whole idea of crying and spilling the beans will not bring back the rule of law. It’s funny how the government stressed the rule of law when my parents and their parents were trying to vote, and be free. Now we want to hold a “sensing session” on who lied and why people died. Ask those who lost loved ones in South Africa at the hands of the racist Aparthied system if crying and awshucking brought them any solace. I dont think so. And I dont believe any of my Soldiers parents will take light of the fact that some A$$hole was “sorry” for misleading us to total oblivion.
PASS
Any misspellings can be contributed to the fact that I am sick and tired of those trying to run and hide from their responsibilities and crimes, while WE out here are being punished far greater and harsher for less greater offenses.
RIP
February 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Leahy says “People would be told to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of conducting criminal indictments…..”
What’s the point? To expose Dick’s and Bush’s crimes?
So…. we allow the entire Planet Earth to look into the bowels of that administration while exposing all its putrid glory, only to do nothing ?????
NO WAY! WAR CRIMINALS MUST BE PROSECUTED! PEDIOD. PARAGRAPH!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:25 pmWhen a district attorney or prosecutor prepares a case, is that an ax to grind? No, it’s called following the law and doing your job, as entrusted to you and paid for by We the People.
Grow some, Patrick! And if you can’t, borrow some!
PEACE
February 9th, 2009 at 2:25 pmIf out government has come to the point where we have to ‘ask’ people to testify and promise them that no one will spank them, the repugs have won. They have truly become a ‘Taliban’ outside of the rule of law.
The proper procedure is investigation by duly appointed authority. If said investigation reveals evidence they present it to a Grand Jury and go for indictments.
There are no vengeance codicils to our laws. Its called justice.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:26 pmThis will uncover ‘facts’ at the same level the 9/11 commission did.
Senator, as the object of Cheney’s infamous ‘go phuck yourself’ statement, do really believe a commission will resolve anything?
I didn’t think so.
Let’s start by an IRS audit of everyone holding office.
Everyone!
That will at least tell us who’s honest in office and who could be considered for your ‘commission’, and it will resolve the current issue of Republicans claiming all Dems are tax evaders.
Next, randomly select U.S. Citizens for your commission. NOT elected officials or former office holders, but some folks from real government, say City Council or County Commissioners.
It’s imperative to have honest, objective citizens find justice. America cannot trust you Congress Critters anymore.
Thank you, Senator,
February 9th, 2009 at 2:28 pmAn American Voter
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If “We The People”, in order to form a more perfect Union, aren’t equal under the law, then Justice is not equal. Period!
If Bush Officials, including Bush and Cheney aren’t held to account and made to bear consequences, then Justice is denied. Period.
MLK Jr. said it best. “Silence is a betrayal of Justice.”
A “TRUTH COMMISSION” is a way of silencing the truth when it does not support consequential accountability, which, Leahy has already objected to.
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February 9th, 2009 at 2:29 pmCan the good senator come to my bank robbery trial and argue for fact finding and not vengance ?
February 9th, 2009 at 2:30 pm.
Dear Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT),
If we can’t take care of our own, then how are we supposed to take care of al-CIA-duh?
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February 9th, 2009 at 2:31 pmA note to the Obama administration…The phrase Justice is blind does not mean it cannot see. It means all are equal.
Not pursuing investigations of wrongdoing by the previous administration is pandering. It also renders Justice not only blind but deaf and dumb as well.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pmThe fact is there are lots of big think gurus who think that investigating the previous administration for possible crimes will ‘undermine the confidence of the American public in their government’ and lead to many bad things.
News Flash!!!! Most Americans already don’t trust the government and are saddened that because they believe there is nothing they can do about it! If you want to give America a real shot of confidence, show them that the law is the law. It isn’t a tradeable commodity. Investigating and prosecuting crimes isn’t a political game, it is a fact of life.
It is way past time to send the message out…if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:43 pmLeahy later added, “Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened. And sometimes is the best way to move forward is to find out the truth, find out what happened. And we do that to make sure it never happens again.”
The only way we can make sure that it never happens again is if we prosecute the people who committed the crimes.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:49 pmI have an idea. Let’s have a “Town Hall Commission.” This Commission will travel from town to town across the nation. At each town, a panel of recently unemployed retail store employees, bankrupt business owners, and foreclosed ex-home owners will listen to randomly selected bush administration officials explain why it was so important to send their sons and daughters off to become victims of IED’s in Iraq while Wall Street billionaires looted the economy, the Treasury, and the equity belonging to the middle class.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:54 pmSenate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy — One of the few people in Washington DC who have spoken the truth during the last eight years… I would like to heard the truth, better yet, I’d LOVE to see those who perpetrated crimes and lies against the American people brought to justice!
February 9th, 2009 at 3:06 pmThese criminals have already admitted to a number of their crimes on TV, with impunity. Anything other than a criminal trial is to be considered an attempt to cover-up the truth.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:22 pmLet’s see how far TV goes to cover this development. CNN i’m looking in your direction… what’s the real situation?
February 9th, 2009 at 3:58 pmLeahy talks a lot. Doesn’t seem to do much else, though.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pmI support a new holiday.
Drag any Republican and the Democratic leaders in the street and beat them day.
February 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pmThe Criminal Bush must go to jail; to set an example for the future and to restore America.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:06 pmI appreciate that this issue is being addressed, but I ask the question: If I go and murder someone, and there is clear evidence of that, would there be a “truth commission” to find out what happened or would I be prosecuted for murder? Others may find this a simplistic example but I think it’s appropriate. Why should Bush/Cheney be above the law???? They are responsible for so much death, poverty, fear and misery. Why should they get away with murder and walk into the sunset? I am in agreement with prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi who wrote a book on the subject. (Here’s the link: http://www.prosecutionofbush.com/ ) When I think of Bush and Cheney walking into the sunset with those ridiculous smirks, without a clue as to the devastation and misery left in their wake, I feel so angry I hardly know what to do with it. I think Americans need to see JUSTICE SERVED. If anyone knows of a petition we can sign, please let us know.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:54 pmA truth commission is a dead end and it is the making of someone who says “I’m more interested in looking forward.”
Obama said tonight, “We don’t torture.” My question is; who is “we,” the Obama Administration or the United States of America?! If we don’t do something about what happened here then the next guy might make Bush look like a good guy.
We don’t people see the dangers in all this?
February 9th, 2009 at 11:24 pm.
#49 acv said:
Now, where have I heard that before?
Same sh!t, different a$$hole, no?
Sorry people, the only “CHANGE” we’re gonna see is that it’s a different person repeating the same lies… What’s new?
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February 10th, 2009 at 12:59 amLeahy has become one of my role models.
The American people must continuously constructively aspire to bring Bush down.
Bush was absolute evil.
Bush was like Hitler.
Bush must be incarcerated without exception.
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
“GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY” BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG
ONLINE, ANTI-BUSH, EDUCATIONAL, SCHOLASTIC RESEARCH: LISTING OF MAJOR ISSUES
http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/10/bush-is-worst-president-in-american.html
February 10th, 2009 at 2:03 amSimply put, if Nixon and his crew had been prosecuted and jailed we would NOT have had to suffer Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and Karl Rove for eight years. They were ALL behind the scenes players in the Nixon Administration and the ONLY lessons that the Nixon pardon taught them was that government looks out for it’s own and don’t leave behind any overt evidence. So they acted under the pretense that there would be no consequences for there crimes and guess what…they appear to have been right. The crimes were committed in broad daylight, under our noses, with a proponderance of evidence left behind and STILL they knew that there would be no consequences. In the words of a prominant Republican who just happened to be a Progressive and a Historian, “Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people.” He also said, “Justice consists not in being neutral between right and wrong, but in finding out the right and upholding it, wherever found, against the wrong” and “The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others.” Those words from President Theodore Roosevelt sadly ring as true today as they did in his time. If crimes can be proven to have occured we have no choice as a Nation of laws but to prosecute. For ALL men are considered equal in the eye of American law. If not then our Nation as we know it is dead.
February 10th, 2009 at 8:12 amThe Senate and House Judiciary committees are just as clueless as are the 9th district judges and 9th circuit court of Appeals judges out here in California.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:08 pmJust once in a long while Congress gets a glimmer of reality like in the Pledge to the Flag case, in calling the Judges out here crazy. Even the US Supreme Court has stated the judges out here do not even know how to interpret the law.
Judge Sullivan’s recent discovery of Illegal acts by the DOJ is nothing new. It is a decades old Standard and Practice of DOJ attorneys to be unethical, deceitful, use perjury both verbal and written, to use suborned false statements obtained from government agencies to insert into filed court documents.
It is very well hidden by the DOJ through the efforts of the OPR and OIG. The OPR ignores any complaints made by citizens of such abuses by DOJ attorneys. The OIG on the other hand just never investigates any complaints made by citizens of such abuses by DOJ attorneys.
The entire Judicial system is heading for a major meltdown if nothing is forth coming to rectify these abuses of our legal rights by the DOJ.