Gan
03-29-2007, 08:14 AM
WASHINGTON -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy yesterday accused President Bush of using the Department of Justice to further his administration's "right-wing ideology," saying that veteran prosecutors were replaced by political operatives in key states to ensure that "reliable partisans" are in place in time for the 2008 presidential election.
Kennedy noted that the recent rash of firings among US attorneys put new top prosecutors in place in several presidential swing states, including Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Arkansas.
At least two of the eight US attorneys fired by the administration refused to investigate spurious claims of voter fraud that were initiated by Republicans, Kennedy said. Two of the new US attorneys, meanwhile, had documented records of pursuing GOP goals, one as a Justice Department official and the other as a top aide to White House political adviser Karl Rove, he said.
"The administration views our system of justice as merely another arena for furthering its right-wing ideology," Kennedy said in a speech at the National Press Club. "The conclusion is inescapable that the administration has methodically placed reliable partisans in positions where they can influence the outcome of the 2008 election."
The speech by Kennedy, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, came a day before a former top Justice Department official is scheduled to appear before the committee.
Lawmakers said they plan to grill D. Kyle Sampson, the former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, about the firings and about the involvement of Gonzales and White House officials in the decision-making.
Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, warned that today's testimony is unlikely to reveal a "smoking gun."
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, said the committee will continue to piece together the facts -- even if Gonzales resigns. "We'll finish this investigation before we have a confirmation hearing for a new attorney general" if Gonzales resigns, he said. http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/File-Based_Image_Resource/dingbat_story_end_icon.gif
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/29/kennedy_justice_firings_are_keyed_to_08_vote/
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DONT MAKE ME GET OUT THE HAT!!!!
You've got to be kidding me. Well, perhaps not, when the father of all Democrat conspiracies throws one out, its bound to be a biggie.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Kennedy noted that the recent rash of firings among US attorneys put new top prosecutors in place in several presidential swing states, including Florida, Iowa, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Arkansas.
At least two of the eight US attorneys fired by the administration refused to investigate spurious claims of voter fraud that were initiated by Republicans, Kennedy said. Two of the new US attorneys, meanwhile, had documented records of pursuing GOP goals, one as a Justice Department official and the other as a top aide to White House political adviser Karl Rove, he said.
"The administration views our system of justice as merely another arena for furthering its right-wing ideology," Kennedy said in a speech at the National Press Club. "The conclusion is inescapable that the administration has methodically placed reliable partisans in positions where they can influence the outcome of the 2008 election."
The speech by Kennedy, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, came a day before a former top Justice Department official is scheduled to appear before the committee.
Lawmakers said they plan to grill D. Kyle Sampson, the former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, about the firings and about the involvement of Gonzales and White House officials in the decision-making.
Senator Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, warned that today's testimony is unlikely to reveal a "smoking gun."
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, said the committee will continue to piece together the facts -- even if Gonzales resigns. "We'll finish this investigation before we have a confirmation hearing for a new attorney general" if Gonzales resigns, he said. http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/File-Based_Image_Resource/dingbat_story_end_icon.gif
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/29/kennedy_justice_firings_are_keyed_to_08_vote/
__________________________________________________ _
DONT MAKE ME GET OUT THE HAT!!!!
You've got to be kidding me. Well, perhaps not, when the father of all Democrat conspiracies throws one out, its bound to be a biggie.
:lol: :lol: :lol: