It was a busy day investigations wise as Democratic lead committees on both sides of the Capitol continued to issue subpoenas mostly, but not limited to, the ongoing investigation into the U.S. attorney firings. The big subpoena of the day came when the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 21-10 to subpoena now Sec. of State Condi Rice to get her to come in and tell the story about how the Bush administration came to the conclusion that Saddam Hussein was seeking weapons of mass destruction. Even if she does testify, it is highly unlikely that Rice will say anything new. She will almost certainly stick to the same story that she has been telling for years now.
The same House committee also issued subpoenas for the Republican National Committee, as they would them to come in and kindly explain how emails relating to the U.S. attorney firings were lost. While by a vote of 32-6, the House Judiciary committee decided to grant immunity to the former White House liaison for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Monica Goodling so that she will share what she knows about why the Bush administration fired the eight U.S. attorneys. If Goodling refuses to testify, the committee also approved a subpoena for her too. The Senate Judiciary Committee also approved, but did not issue, a subpoena for Karl Rove’s deputy Sara Taylor. The committee wants to speak to Taylor about any possible White House role in the firings.
I don’t expect anything to really come from the Rice or RNC subpoenas, but the real bombshell could come in the form of Monica Goodling. As Gonzales’ connection to the White House she has all the details about any possible communications, motivations, or instructions that were sent from the White House to the Justice Department. I think that she would have to be crazy not to take the committee up on their offer of immunity. Especially since her former boss has so little support even among congressional Republicans. It is clear now that Gonzales’ testimony didn’t change anything, and also that the Judiciary Committee is not going to let this drop. I must say that after six years of watching Republicans ignore their duties of oversight, it is nice to see the Democrats making up for lost time.
You can read a related AP article here.
Jason Easley is the editor of the politics zone at 411mania.com. His news column The Political Universe appears on Tuesdays and Fridays at www.411mania.com/politics
Jason can also be heard every Sunday afternoon at 1:30 pm (ET) as the host of The Political Universe Radio Show at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepoliticaluniverse
Loading ...
2 users commented in " Democrats put their Congressional subpoena powers to work "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThey are handing out subpoenas like candies on Halloween night!
Visit: http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org
Before our congress starts issuing subpoenas and calling for a member of our government to resign, they should take a look at their own conduct and actions. I laugh at their “contempt of congress” because our congress lies to the public on a continuing basis.
Not only do they lie to the public, they cheat and steal worse than any group of people I know. The figure out ways to line their pockets with money from the campaign funds, take kick-backs from powerful lobbiest, take advantage of special outings designed to influence their votes on different legislation before them. Then they say they have not done anything wrong or cry for forgiveness when they are caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.
I think that the public should be able to issue “contempt of the people” subpoenas for members of our congress and have special hearing “at the expense” of our legislatures and not the expense of the taxpayers. Make them pay out the money from their own pockets for these hearings. Many of these hearings are nothing but a HUGH JOKE, just like many of our representative and senators. How in the world can they stand to look at their own face in a mirror after the have lied and cheated the American Public.
Leave A Reply