Author Archive for: emptywheel
About emptywheel
Marcy Wheeler is an independent journalist writing about national security and civil liberties. She writes as emptywheel at her eponymous blog, publishes at outlets including Vice, Motherboard, the Nation, the Atlantic, Al Jazeera, and appears frequently on television and radio. She is the author of Anatomy of Deceit, a primer on the CIA leak investigation, and liveblogged the Scooter Libby trial.
Marcy has a PhD from the University of Michigan, where she researched the “feuilleton,” a short conversational newspaper form that has proven important in times of heightened censorship. Before and after her time in academics, Marcy provided documentation consulting for corporations in the auto, tech, and energy industries. She lives with her spouse in Grand Rapids, MI.
Entries by emptywheel
Mikey Isikoff's Old Lovers Cite New Privileges
/in CIA Leak Case, USA Purge/by emptywheelMikey Isikoff (surprise!!!) has the exclusive (!!!) read of what Fred Fielding is now trying to assert for Rove: Executive privilege. For the first time. With no specific review of whether or not Rove’s actions–particularly as they relate to pursuing a witch hunt against Governor Siegelman and attempting to get Patrick Fitzgerald fired while investigating Bush’s orders to go after Joe Wilson–merit “executive privilege,” Fielding is now asserting executive privilege. And Isikoff is such a crack journalist, he doesn’t notice the change in stance!!!
Welcome to old ways in Washington DC!
Buh Bye Blago
/in emptywheel/by emptywheelMatt Cooper Predicts Bad Things for His Buddy Karl Rove
/in CIA Leak Case, USA Purge/by emptywheelIt was bound to happen. Matt Cooper, to whom Karl Rove leaked Valerie Wilson’s identity, is now reporting on Karl Rove again (at his new digs over at TPM). Better yet, Matt suggests Turdblossom may have miscalculated in his efforts to avoid testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.
I spoke with a Washington lawyer who has dealt with many presidential privilege issues and he (or is it she?) raised some interesting questions
Rove: It's Still the Absolute Immunity Issue
/in emptywheel, USA Purge/by emptywheelSorry I’ve been a bit distracted (yes yes, I know I promised a post on those missing OLC opinions!!) But until I get undistracted, check out this video from Turdblossom.
Note how he describes the issue:
I’ve been directed again … not to respond to a subpoena, exerting privilege on behalf of a former President.
Whitehouse and Leahy Scold Cornyn and Specter for Asking for No Prosecution Guarantee
/in Law/by emptywheelThe vote on Holder is already done, but in the dregs section as Senators explain why they supported Holder, Whitehouse and Leahy took the opportunity to scold Cornyn and Specter for trying to make Holder commit to no prosecutions for torture.
Whitehouse said (this was a liveblog approximation):
We came perilously close to seeking a prosecutive commitment from an AG candidate on an issue he would have to make a decision
Holder Vote in SJC Now
/in Law, Obama Administration/by emptywheelThere won’t be any news in today’s vote. Specter has cast his yes vote, Hatch is babbling on while making it clear he votes yes, too. And Leahy is just laughing about it, saying, “babble on, I know I’m going to win.” (Okay, he didn’t use the word, “babble.”
But in case you’re interested here’s the committee stream.