Here's what's going on from TPM Muckraker:
One last chance, or the subpoenas come out.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee along with ranking member Arlen Specter (R-PA) wrote Attorney General Alberto Gonzales yesterday to ask again for certain withheld documents relevant to the U.S. attorney firings. If Gonzales
doesn't turn them over by tomorrow, the committee will issue subpoenas for
them on Thursday, they write. You can read the letter here.
And more documents:
They also targeted documents reported on by The American Spectator last week. The mag reported that certain files in the Deputy Attorney General's office had not been turned over to Congress: "the files include overviews and evaluations of at least a dozen current and now-former U.S. Attorneys, which were prepared by DAG and EOUSA staff to brief Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty and his chief of staff Michael Elston."
Dems Demand Docs Related to Wisconsin Case:
First see my post here, and then to TPM Muckraker's report:
At TPM, we've been taking a hard look at the U.S. Attorney in Milwaukee, Steven Biskupic. And so, apparently, have Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A number of Democratic committee members signed a letter today to Alberto Gonzales seeking answers:
We are concerned whether or not politics may have played a role in a case brought by Stephen Biskupic, the United States Attorney based in Milwaukee, against Georgia Thompson, formerly an official in the administration of Wisconsin’s Democratic governor.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was reportedly so troubled by the insufficiency of the evidence against Ms. Thompson that it made the unusual
decision to issue an order reversing Ms. Thompson’s conviction and releasing her
from custody immediately after oral arguments in her appeal.
Democrats are seeking all documents related to Biskupic's handling of that case, including "[a]ll communications between the Department of Justice and any other outside party, including political party officials, regarding the case against Ms. Thompson or the United States Attorney’s handling of that case."
And from Rep Jon Conyers at the AP:
WASHINGTON - The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed new documents Tuesday from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales as part of its investigation into
the firings of federal prosecutors, with the panel chairman saying he had run
out of patience.
"We have been patient in allowing the department to work through its concerns regarding the sensitive nature of some of these materials," Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., wrote Gonzales in a letter accompanying the subpoena.
"Unfortunately, the department has not indicated any meaningful willingness to
find a way to meet our legitimate needs.,"
"At this point further delay in receiving these materials will not serve any constructive purpose," Conyers said. He characterized the subpoena as a last resort after weeks of negotiations with Justice over documents and e-mails the committee wants.
The Justice Department did not have an immediate comment.
Will the DOJ give these documents to the Senate or will the Senate have to subpoena them. Really makes you think they have something to hide, doesn't it. Ya Think?
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