Bush officials lobbying Obama Justice Department to ‘water down’ torture report.
Bush officials lobbying Obama Justice Department to ‘water down’ torture report.
The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility is expected to release a long-awaited report that will reveal the conduct of senior Bush administration lawyers who authorized torture. Newsweek reported recently that the report is “causing anxiety among former Bush administration officials.” Now, the Washington Post is reporting that Bush officials are lobbying the DOJ to weaken the report’s conclusions:
Former Bush administration officials are lobbying behind the scenes to push Justice Department leaders to water down an ethics report criticizing lawyers who blessed harsh detainee interrogation tactics, according to two sources familiar with the efforts.
In recent days, attorneys for the subjects of the ethics probe have encouraged senior Bush administration appointees to write and phone Justice Department officials, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the process is not complete.
(HT: Kevin Drum)
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Of course they are…
What are they afraid of?
May 5th, 2009 at 2:29 pmThey should have thought of that before they betrayed our Country’s values… too bad.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:29 pmWait. What is it they want? To water down the report or to water board the evildoers who are releasing the info?
May 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pmIsn’t trying to influence investigations of any kind against the Law?
Fcuk ‘em, they did the crime, let them do the time.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:32 pmFormer Bush administration officials are lobbying behind the scenes to push Justice Department leaders to water down an ethics report criticizing lawyers who blessed harsh detainee interrogation tactics, according to two sources familiar with the efforts.
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“Watered down”…ironic that they should have chosen to use that particular phrase, isn’t it?
Seriously, however, I’m not at all surprised that they’re trying to do this — it’s nothing less than what Bush and his officials tried to do every time data or information came out which challenged or contradicted their preferred message.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:32 pmAccording to what I heard on NPR, the targets of the probe are being allowed by the DOJ to review the report before it is released. I’ve never heard of such a thing being allowed. They’re are also indications that the report will recomend that the lawyers will be reffered to the bar for disiplinary action but not for prosecutorial action.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pmWhat’s wrong with this picture?
This must be part of the NCLB
No Criminal Left Behind
May 5th, 2009 at 2:36 pmBush’s portable grand jury is at it again.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pmBut the OPR probe began after Jack Goldsmith, a Bush appointee who took over OLC in 2003, protested the legal arguments made in the memos. Goldsmith resigned the following year after withdrawing the memos, and later wrote that he was “astonished” by the “deeply flawed” and “sloppily reasoned” legal analysis in the memos by Yoo and Bybee, including their assertion (challenged by many scholars) that the president could unilaterally disregard a law passed by Congress banning torture.
Goldsmith had a conscience and common sense. No wonder he didn’t stay in the bush administration…
May 5th, 2009 at 2:39 pmNew Rules (could also be used by Bill Maher) – Lobby DOJ for lenient treatment regarding torture report – get moved to front of one-way plane ride to the Hague.
Simple !
May 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm.
Whereas some prefer to play “FOLLOW the LEADER”…
… America was founded on “FOLLOWING the LAW”.
Too bad many leaders prefer to be followed by the people…
… And they refuse to follow the law.
.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmTo echo Wayne’s recent comments about lobbying, just how does a former Bush official, no longer in power, lobby the OPR? Bribes? Threats?
May 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm“What’s wrong with this picture?”
Sorry to get all “conspiratorial”, but this whole thing seems like, not only an attempted White-wash, but a Red-Herring… diverting attention from a real investigation into the multitude of unanswered questions of 9/11… and ALL of the other crimes of the Bush Administration.
This alone seems like it will drag on for years and I don’t see any reason to believe that it is unintentional when there is plenty of evidence already in the public record.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmThe Bush Crime Family is scccccared now. And they should be for breaking the law and then trying to cover it up.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pmBut they have even ‘admitted’ that they did use ‘harsh interrogations’ [torture], and NOW they are scared that they may have to face doing the time for their crime I don’t get it becasue I know if it were you or me, our a@@es would be sittin in prison right now. Is this the same report Cheney wanted to show torture actually worked?? I hate this double standard of looking at the law. We either are a nation of laws or we aren’t, and there is no middle.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pmOf course they are going to lobby to have these “torture” reports watered down, as they are the same people that raised $100 million for Bush’s library.
I would like to get the names of those who contributed to Bush’s Torture library just curious how much tax dollars was used?
I hope ethics win here and not money.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pmIs it ethical
May 5th, 2009 at 2:46 pmTo change the conclusions of
An ethics report?
To echo Wayne’s recent comments about lobbying, just how does a former Bush official, no longer in power, lobby the OPR? Bribes? Threats?
Or family connections. Officials’ relatives gotta’ eat too, ‘ya know.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pmOn with it! After prosecuting the torture charges, Iraq needs to be vindicated for that illegal invasion and woeful destruction.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pmHey, why be so modest about a program that saved millions of American lives? Let’s hear all about it!
[maybe I should lobby the DA about watering down my drunk and disorderly report?]
May 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pmThis OPR report, as I understand it, for the first time in the history of OPR, allows the subjects of the report input before release. Now beyond that their attorneys are asking for a do over? How many “detainees” get a do over for illegal acts committed against them. It’ll be revealing about Obama and DoJ what is reported and recommended. I’d be surprised if it is fair and balanced tm.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:49 pmThis is what comes of developing policies from pathological TV shows.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pmWater down the truth so they can continue to screw america?
May 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm.
Watered down…
… Like they did to detainees?
.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:58 pmYoo and Bybee, both federalists, were looking for ways around the law to please the unitary executive they so desired.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:59 pmthe bush admin. wants to water down something?
wow, what a surprise.
who would have guessed that W stood for waterboarding warcriminal?
May 5th, 2009 at 3:00 pmFull article is up….
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050502219.html?hpid=topnews
May 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm.
Redefining words…
Dog poo
Eggs
Play time
Watered down
.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pmNo, but they are hoping
May 5th, 2009 at 3:03 pmThat it is conclusive
To change the ethics
Of the report’s conclusion.
The sweeping investigation, now in its fifth year, could shed new light on the origins of the memos. Investigators rely in part on e-mail exchanges between Justice Department lawyers and lawyers at the CIA who sought advice about the legality of interrogation practices that have since been abandoned by the Obama administration.
Can’t wait to see these emails. They knew it was illegal and the emails will prove it.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pmThis is a big test for Obama and Holder. Gentlemen, don’t fail us now.
PEACE
May 5th, 2009 at 3:04 pmformer = no longer of consequence.
take your medicine like big boys and girls, righties.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:05 pmYa they have a new weapon the unleash. It’s called a chilling effect. After the chilling effect buschCO is creating right now a little fresh breeeze is the least of our worries.
Let the fresh air at these jokers. Clean, fresh, cool air is an excellent disinfectant.
“chilling effect”? Hhehe. Weak!
May 5th, 2009 at 3:08 pmWe need the OPR leaked before it is watered-down!! Now, that’s a conundrum that shouldn’t be one!!
May 5th, 2009 at 3:13 pmI would think that if they thought they were not doing something that is questionable, they would have marched down to plead their cases. Even if they do not face criminal charges, disbarment is a kiss of death for an attorney.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:15 pmHow, exactly, does one “water down” a report on illegal interrogation methods?
Does it involve a slant board, a cloth, and a lot of water? Until the report admits it’s wrong?
May 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pmNewsweek reported recently that the report is “causing anxiety among former Bush administration officials.”
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Yeah, having your illegal activities subjected to harsh daylight tends to do that…
May 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pmWatering down the report on Bush crime family torture by waterboarding? Naah.,.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pmSo, some of BuschCo’s lawyers are “anxious” about what the reports will say? It sounds like they’re afraid that their pucker strings will give out and they will mess all over themselves. Too Bad, So Sad.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:33 pmNewsweek reported recently that the report is “causing anxiety among former Bush administration officials.”
Too effin’ bad. The policies and actions of the former Bush administration caused more than just anxiety among American citizens and the rest of the world.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pmNot sure but I think they want to waterboard the report.
:|
Which would make it difficult to read.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:49 pm“NPR says that the DOJ report ‘will refer former Justice officials to the bar for possible disciplinary action, which means they could be disbarred.’”
And that is good step in the right direction to refer Justice officials to bar to for disciplinary action. I would go as far as to have thier license suspended. Yes, this is a big test for President as well as Holder. We need to move forward but more importantly, these Justice officials need to held accountable for their actions of breaking the law, send a message to the Bush Administration and others who feel that they are above the law and reassure the public that history doesn’t repeat itself and that no one is above the law.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:59 pmKind of like the fox guarding the hen house!!
May 5th, 2009 at 4:24 pmBy all means in a country that seems to encourage no accountability, lets water something down. Screw values, screw the law and screw the Constitution.
The fact that Bush officials are still slithering around Washington is real chutzpah. It is like the best explanation for chutzpah. A man murders both his parents, then throws himself on the mercy of the court, cause he’s an orphan.
They broke the law, shredded the Constitution and now they want the DOJ, not to overreact.
May 5th, 2009 at 4:31 pmEvery time I read a headline with both the words water and tortured in it … I find myself getting board .
May 5th, 2009 at 5:20 pmI want to send the whole administration to the people of Iraq. Let them lie in the bed they made.
May 5th, 2009 at 7:11 pmIsn’t that OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE??
HELLO?- O.P.R.???
May 5th, 2009 at 7:38 pmNo charges against the lawyers, just professional sanctions. American “just us” is a joke.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pmthanks….
May 6th, 2009 at 4:37 amI THANK
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