Posts

I've got just a few minutes before I've got to pack up for DC. But I wanted to point out a curious detail about the WaPo's story on NSLs: the centrality of PFIAB in it. The story, of course, reveals that Gonzales received reports of violations of National Security Letter procedures, and then went into Congress and said there had been no problems with the program.

Credit where it's due. Tom Maguire hits all the right notes about this Novak book excerpt, save one. He notes that Novak's story has a way of changing with the seasons. Interesting. This old post has the Novak version before he was willing to name Armitage; here is Novak (post-"Hubris") rebutting Armitage's version. There are subtle shifts in the story - now we are told that "Hementioned her first name, Valerie",

I'm supposed to be doing something else entirely. But I'm going to raise a point that I've raised already--because it sure seems like Democrats are sleeping through the Constitution. Paul Clement, in his explanation of why BushCo could invoke executive privilege in the USA scandal, claimed that the President has "nondelegable Presidential power" "to nominate orto remove U.S.

As a teaser for the post I keep promising, but never delivering (identifying the document from which I think Cheney learned of Plame's identity), I'm going to make a quick point about Cheney's request to the CIA on June 10, 2003 for information on Wilson's trip. This email, written by Robert Grenier's Executive Assistant (but not seen by Grenier, if we can believe his trial testimony), repeats the story that Cheney

281 days. That's how long--by my admittedly rough count--Jeff Taylor has been serving as Interim USA for DC. He's been serving roughly 21 days since George Bush signed a law that effectively did away with the PATRIOT appointment he currently serves under. Yet there he is, a former DOJ clique-member, Counselor to the Attorney General for four years, and before that Counsel to the Republican-led Senate Judiciary Committee. Yet come Wednesday, when

Big Media Matt and Brendan Nyhan and Tom Maguire are puzzling over what motive Bush might have for commuting Libby's sentence. Since Maguire was helpful enough to quote from Team USA, I'll offer an explanation offered by Team Libby. (I could point to a number of Fitzgerald quotes about clouds and VicePresidents that Maguire is overlooking, but I find that Jeffress isbetter at soundbite than Fitzgerald.) In his closing argument, Bill

I mentioned in my celebration of Jeralyn my friend whose clients never get the luxury of Presidential commutations. Well, he says this is an accurate quote, so I thought I'd let him have his say on Libby's commutation. David Moran, associate dean of the Wayne State University Law School,said Libby's commutation directly contradicts the Justice Department'sposition in the case of Victor Rita, a highly decorated veteranimprisoned for perjury under circumstances strikingly similar

In my post on the felon of considerable means, rhfactor noted that Libby's check paying his fine was dated July 2--the same day Bush obstructed justice commuted Libby's prison sentence. What a coinkydink, huh? But I checked with the good folks at the Prettyman Courthouse, and at least on the surface, there's nothing untoward about the date.

Let me say straight out. Punishing Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence with censure would be like punishing Libby's obstruction of justice with just 400 hours of community service. It would simply reinforce the notion that Bush's Administration is above the law. It would be a punishment wholly unfit for the crime that has been committed: