Podesta Calls For Bybee Impeachment On CNN, Delivers Your Petitions To Congress
Podesta Calls For Bybee Impeachment On CNN, Delivers Your Petitions To Congress
Appearing on CNN’s State of the Union this morning, Center for American Progress Action Fund President and CEO John Podesta called on Congress to commence impeachment hearings against Jay Bybee, should he decide not to voluntarily resign his seat on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Podesta said:
The one thing I disagree with you and David [Gergen] about is I do think there’s a distinction between going back and prosecuting in criminal courts the actors who were involved in these memos and letting Judge Bybee continue to sit on a court one step removed from the Supreme Court. He’s acting and listening to cases, making judgments of others, and we know he authorized things that were illegal under U.S. law and violated the U.S. obligations under international treaties.
If he would do the right thing, he should just simply resign. If he doesn’t, I think this is one matter where he continues to sit — he doesn’t have the moral or legal authority to continue to do that. And I think a simple matter would be to remove him from office.
Podesta added that he suspects the White House doesn’t agree with the call for impeaching Bybee. The other panelists — David Gergen and former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein — disagreed with the call for impeachment. Watch it:
Also, Podesta delivered a letter this morning to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI), laying out the case for impeaching Bybee.
The letter (pdf) informed Conyers that ThinkProgress has collected nearly 20,000 signatures from concerned citizens “who have expressed their deep-felt and sincere desire to see that Judge Bybee is held to account for authorizing torture.” Podesta’s letter affixed the names of everyone who signed our petition calling on Congress to begin impeachment hearings against Bybee. (It required 71 three-column double-sided pages.)
Thanks for all your help! This could not have been possible without the support of all of you who signed the petition. If you have not already done so, please consider joining the effort by clicking here.
Read Podesta’s full letter below:
Dear Chairman Conyers,
I am writing to ask you to consider holding impeachment hearings against 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jay Bybee, should he decide not to voluntarily resign.
As you are well aware, Judge Bybee is the only architect of the Bush administration’s torture program to currently hold public office.
A legal memorandum signed by Judge Bybee when he was the head of the Office of Legal Counsel and recently released by the Obama administration approved the use of cruel, inhuman, and degrading techniques, including waterboarding, slamming a detainee into a wall, depriving a detainee of sleep for up to eleven days at a time, and trapping a prisoner in a “confinement box” with insects in order to induce terror. The techniques endorsed by Judge Bybee’s memoranda violated U.S. law and our commitments under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
On March 13, 2003, Judge Bybee was confirmed by a 74-19 vote in the Senate. During his Senate hearings, Mr. Bybee stonewalled the Judiciary Committee when asked about his role in national security matters. He said at the time, “As an attorney at the Department of Justice, I am obliged to keep confidential the legal advice that I provide to others in the executive branch.” A number of Senators have now acknowledged that, had they known then what they now know, Judge Bybee would not have been confirmed.
Jay Bybee currently sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals, one level removed from the U.S. Supreme Court. He has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution. Yet, having issued opinions that violate the Constitution and concealed relevant aspects of his legal views and professional conduct from the Senate, Bybee has neither the legal nor moral authority to sit in judgment of others.
My organization, the Center for American Progress Action Fund, has collected signatures from approximately 20,000 Americans (see attached) who have expressed their deep-felt and sincere desire to see that Judge Bybee is held to account for authorizing torture. It is unacceptable to allow him to continue to serve in his current role. Judge Bybee should resign, but if he fails to do so, I urge you to begin impeachment proceedings against him.
Sincerely,
John Podesta
President and CEO, Center for American Progress Action Fund
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The letter (pdf) informed Conyers that ThinkProgress has collected nearly 20,000 signatures
– - That’s not exactly an overwhelming mandate from the public. Sheesh.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:08 pmImpeach and prosecute!!!
April 26th, 2009 at 12:09 pmJohn King joined the laundry list of interviewers giving a free pass to Ken Duberstein for Fannie Mae.
Duberstein sat on the Fannie Mae Board of Directors from 1998-2007. During that time management committed fraud to maximize executive incentive compensation. There was a fat settlement, but no criminal charges.
Ken’s firm made over $1.8 million for providing regulatory advice to Fannie during his board tenure.
The deference given to ex-White House Chiefs of Staff is disturbing.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:14 pm- – That’s not exactly an overwhelming mandate from the public. Sheesh.
Did you know that it only takes about 200 letters to make a TV network change its policies about a program? 20,000 may not seem like much, but at least it means somebody cares. I don’t believe they will ignore the letter and signatures. They will have to respond to them somehow.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:16 pmwow; we can’t impeach Bybee as we had KKK judges remain? good grief.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:20 pmAwww, now, come ON, you tree-hugging Socialist commie fascist extreme leftist hatemongers!!!
HE DIDN’T GET A BLOW JOB!!! This is just a political witch hunt!!!!
/snark
April 26th, 2009 at 12:26 pmThe GOP have painted themselves into a corner by defending Cheney’s legacy of torture. Their fake outrage matches only their hypocrisy and frothing at the mouth over Clinton’s failed land deal and lies about stains on that blue dress. GOP are not only the party of “No,” but also the party of torture.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:31 pmyes, remove him, yes
April 26th, 2009 at 12:46 pmI think that 20,000 signatures is a big deal. We must keep pushing. If most Americans weren’t going through unemployment, financial hardship and/or preoccupied with the economy, the prosecution of the Bush Crime Family for torture would get even more attention.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pmI predict a massive unhinging of wingnuts and tr0//z over this action. They have never been good with reality.
April 26th, 2009 at 12:57 pmire _ant_chavis Says:
I think that 20,000 signatures is a big deal
– - Really? In a nation of more than 200 million registered voters? 20,000 is a drop in the waterboard bucket.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:03 pmLibellula saturata Annie Says:
Awww, now, come ON, you tree-hugging Socialist commie fascist extreme leftist hatemongers!!!
HE DIDN’T GET A BLOW JOB!!! This is just a political witch hunt!!!!
/snark
—————————————————————-
Awww, now come ON, you torture loving citizen of the republican’ts party of right-wing extremist.
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND!!
PS He looks like he needs a good BLOW JOB!!!
/snark
April 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pmPodesta is one of my HEROES! Remember….its the SQUEAKY WHEEL that gets the grease. Not the largest wheel….IJS
April 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pmBadmoodman Says:
The letter (pdf) informed Conyers that ThinkProgress has collected nearly 20,000 signatures
- – That’s not exactly an overwhelming mandate from the public. Sheesh.
————————————————————–
I see your still stuck in the ‘delusional’ world of Bush’s Torture Administration.
20,000+ is mandating that this creep be removed from the bench. That’s pretty impressive
April 26th, 2009 at 1:16 pmOr judicial system has morphed into a “law pasture” for politically connected idealogues to graze about in until such time as they are called upon to issue pro forma opinions requested by whomever is in charge at that time. Independant judiciaries are about as common as unicorns and about as helpful in formulating sound legal thinking. “Court shopping” is just another tactic to delay and cover up. Bybee will be protected by conservatives in both parties because they may need him to shield other law-breaking activities by our gov’t down the road. Al Capone once said lawyers and judges were the best investment one could make if they wanted to carry on large scale criminal activity and he’s been proven correct many times in the last 75 yrs.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:17 pmBadmoodman Says:
It may seem like a drop in the waterboarding bucket but it’s still a good start. We’ve got along way to go with this torture issue. Wait until all of the photos get released. I do believe those numbers will increase. If it weren’t significant I don’t believe MSM, bloggers and cable news heads would even discuss the issue.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:37 pmThe death-grip of desperation is like a badge of honor for the few remaining GOP nutt-huggers.
I welcome and encourage all Right-wing-nuts to continue offering their incredible wit and insight.
ROCK ON, LOSERS!
April 26th, 2009 at 1:40 pmI think it would be indispensable, for full disclosure to ensure he has been totally forthcoming, for Bybee to undergo every ‘procedure’ he personally approved.
It’s legal ‘n all, right?
April 26th, 2009 at 1:40 pmWell done, Mr Podesta. Keep gathering those signatures, and we’ll keep this thing alive.
BTW, flag the unoriginal troll.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:40 pmbriantanks Says: Nothing important.
You don’t have to visit this site. Logoff and don’t come back. There’s obviously something appealing about TP, MoveOn,etc. because trolls like you can’t stop coming back for more. You need to get a life, grow a brain, or go to a psychiatrist and get better meds. Do something besides hate and criticize. You probably live in your grandma’s basement and wear tighty-whities yourself – loony loser.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:43 pmI’m just waiting for some neocon on TV to admit that when a white xtian waterboards a brown heathen it is not torture – only when it is the other way around is it torture.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:54 pmbriantanks Says:
No wonder most of you are democrat…all you want is more money from the government because you fail at securing jobs.
How odd. And here I am working for the same company for 25 years. You do realize that “red states” have the highest levels of welfare and get the most money from the Federal government in entitlements, right?
Or that in a recent study of shifting electorates, where red districts are becoming more red and the blue districts more blue, that the average income in the blue districts is $11,000 more than in the red?
Also, its funny how when it comes to Bush officials and “torture”, its all “enforce the law”.
But when it comes things like illegal immigration…then the enforce the law” statement is suspended.
Again, how odd, because the most ardent supporters of “amnesty” are Republican businessmen who rely on cheap labor for immigrants.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:57 pmfrom the article: “David Gergen and former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein — disagreed with the call for impeachment”
*****From the people who love to get on a soap box & shout to the world how morally superior they are,that means Repukes folks.Can’t somehow see the massive immorality of Bybee.Repukes are sick,sick people.
April 26th, 2009 at 1:59 pmWow! This post is light. I guess we’re keeping the Fu*k!ng trolls busy on the ladder posts. Anywho …
briantanks
When a small group of careless, narcissistic, neocon, conservatives that call them selves Rebublican’ts take over and screw a country up so bad in the order of 8.5% unemployment – the SMART part of the country gets PISSED OFF! Got it! Now STFH and go play outside with the special friends you made while being lied to for the last 8-years.
Go on! Keep walking! No, no, no, don’t touch the keyboard! Keyboard bad. Keyboard is ouchy!
April 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pmOff topic, but speaking of John Podesta, did anyone notice that Hillary made one of those “surprise” visits to Iraq yesterday?
April 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pmShe said something to the effect “we fully support the Iraqi people”, and I thought…oh goody, that should guarantee at least 6 Friedman Units with the troops at Surge level.
17. briantanks Says: …good to see what these little loons are running around screaming. In my mind everytime I think of thinkprogress or moveon or daily kos…i see a big open area filled with screaming little loons running wild from left or right…too funny.
Welcome BT, there’s always room for one more screaming loon…
Also, its funny how when it comes to Bush officials and “torture”, its all “enforce the law”. But when it comes things like illegal immigration…then the enforce the law” statement is suspended.
Yeah, murder and suffering and inflicting pain on innocent people, not to mention children does have a tendency to put immediate concerns in perspective. btw, did you have a salad today? Some fruit?
god, you all are a bunch of loons…
Better a loon..hell, better loon droppings than a republican, any day.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:03 pmI like the moniker, “briantanks;” especially how it presages your posts so accurately: brian tanks…
April 26th, 2009 at 2:08 pmbriantanks is another example of a drive-by troll who spews out a few talking points, no backup, no links and then goes away.
Kinda like my neighbor’s dog who shits in my yard and goes back home.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:12 pmbriantanks Says:
you guys are pure i diots. does f a i z s h a kir have a real job, or does he just sit around in his tighty-whities in front of his little computer, hacking away at little article like these. ThinkProgress is for entertainment…good to see what these little loons are running around screaming. In my mind everytime I think of thinkprogress or moveon or daily kos…i see a big open area filled with screaming little loons running wild from left or right…too funny.
Why do you bring your “little” virulent attitude to TP? You must sit around thinking of mindless “little” things to say all day? And I like the, “tighty-whities”
No wonder most of you are democrat…all you want is more money from the government because you fail at securing jobs.
STOP IT!!already briantanks who cares about your biography.
Also, its funny how when it comes to Bush officials and “torture”, its all “enforce the law”.
WHAT’S SO FUNNY ABOUT THAT, PLEASE EXPLAIN?
But when it comes things like illegal immigration…then the enforce the law” statement is suspended.
I see you got the Bachmenn syndrome just talking for the helluva it, just like to hear yourself talk.
god, you all are a bunch of loons… you must be talking about the Republican’ts?
message to briantanks—–make something of your life.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:21 pmVaranus komodoensis Says:
Badmoodman Says:
I see your still stuck in the ‘delusional’ world of Bush’s Torture Administration.
– - I see you have absolutely NO CLUE to the history of my posts on this board. Wake the hell up, ya freakin’ newbie.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:32 pmVaranus komodoensis Says:
Badmoodman Says:
I see your still stuck in the ‘delusional’ world of Bush’s Torture Administration.
– - Oh, and it’s “you’re.” You’re welcome.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:33 pmKinda like my neighbor’s dog who shits in my yard and goes back home.
Both are just as intimidated by a friendly wave and a smile during their dumping.
I love pulling that on my neighbors when I catch them allowing their dog to shit in my yard.
Kinda freaks em out…
April 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pmBadmoodman Says:
Varanus komodoensis Says:
Badmoodman Says:
I see your still stuck in the ‘delusional’ world of Bush’s Torture Administration.
- – Oh, and it’s “you’re.” You’re welcome.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:52 pm————————————————————-
I’m not here to appease you
Badmoodman Says:
Varanus komodoensis Says:
Badmoodman Says:
I see your still stuck in the ‘delusional’ world of Bush’s Torture Administration.
- – I see you have absolutely NO CLUE to the history of my posts on this board. Wake the hell up, ya freakin’ newbie.
April 26th, 2009 at 2:57 pm—————————————————————
And your correct, I don’t care about the history of your posts?
Bybee should be impeached and prosecuted. But lets not forget the others and their bosses.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:21 pmChnney, Rice, Bush, Perle, Adington, Feith, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Powell, and everybody else involved in the TORTURE PROGRAM and WARS OF AGRESSION that so far, has left thousands of innocents dead, iraquis, afegahns and americans included!
War Crimes have been commited. People want JUSTICE and the rule of LAW!
Hang all those politicians! They are all criminals! There, I think that should satisfy both sides and was a lot quicker too ……
April 26th, 2009 at 4:46 pmThe death-grip of desperation is like a badge of honor for the few remaining GOP nutt-huggers.
I welcome and encourage all Right-wing-nuts to continue offering their incredible wit and insight.
yes…
April 26th, 2009 at 4:55 pmFrank Rich reports that Bybee is a Cub Scout leader. If I were a Cub Scout mom, I’d sure take my little boy out of the torturer’s den.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
April 26th, 2009 at 6:17 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
——————————————————————————–
Don’t forget Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats in Congress that were fully briefed on the subject and approved of the enhanced interrogation techniques.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm==============================================================Stop it with the projected talking points. Let me ask you a couple of questions. 1. Who was in the majority in both houses of cogress while this was happening? 2. Since when does the minority member of a top secret committee or sub-committee get to over rule the administration, e.g., the president and his crime family? If they did push torture they should be punished, just like the majority and the people who were really responsible for giving the orders, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, et al.
If Democrats were involved, they need to be punihsed also. There is no justice unless it applies to everyone.
April 26th, 2009 at 6:34 pmMake that 20,001. I just signed!
Sorry, TP. I’ve been lazy and should have done this sooner. I’ll forward it to my lovely liberal friends and post it on my website to make up for it!
April 26th, 2009 at 7:12 pmThis is a dead end, just look at Conyers’ record on holding anyone in the Bush regime accountable: 0
April 26th, 2009 at 9:33 pmThe pursuit of justice for all is not a dead end, it is the foundation of our democracy.
April 26th, 2009 at 9:40 pmConservativeForProgress Says:
Don’t forget Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democrats in Congress that were fully briefed on the subject and approved of the enhanced interrogation techniques.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Who says they approved you lying punkass troll? They were TOLD and it was CLASSIFIED. It would have been illegal to disclose the classified information. What a brainwashed fool you are. You tune into Rush who tells you what to think and even if it doesnt make the slightest bit of sense you spew it like the moron you are.
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