Up until the moment when Fred Fielding claimed Rove’s actions in the Siegelman affair were part of his “official duties,” those actions, by themselves, may not have been illegal. But as soon as Siegelman made that claim, they became clear Hatch Act violations.
In which I continue to harp on the differences between executive privilege and absolute immunity.
Just about everyone believes that Bush invoked executive privilege to prevent Rove from having to testify today. But that’s not what happened.
Surprise surprise. Rove was too chicken to give testimony under oath to show up before HJC today. That’s not surprising. What I find surprising (well, not really) are the thin excuses that Republicans are coming up with to excuse Turdblossom from obeying a subpoena.
First, according to the statement Sanchez put out, Fred Fielding did intervene to give a last minute reprieve to Karl–though still without invoking executive privilege.
First, the claims have
The exchange between Pat Leahy and Michael Mukasey about the anthrax terrorist sure made me wonder whether they both know exactly who sent those anthrax letters.
Back during Michael Mukasey’s confirmation hearings, Sheldon Whitehouse got Michael Mukasey to commit that, when a President changes an executive order, he appropriately should actually change the executive order–so schmoes like you and I can know what the President is actually doing.
2. Do you believe that the President may act contrary to a valid executive order?
Michael Mukasey pretty much hung Patrick Fitzgerald out to dry today–suggesting that Fitzgerald’s investigation of the Plame leak was an example of the problems with a Special Counsel. That has pretty astonishing implications for his view of whether the Vice President ought to be held responsible for his actions or not.
As of now, someone–either at the White House or in DOJ–has declined to support executive privilege to prevent Rove’s testimony before the House judiciary tomorrow. And, in a hearing before the Senate, the AG suggested there were other avenues to investigate Rove’s role in the Siegelman prosecution besides OPR.
Is it possible Mukasey supports an HJC inquiry into the issue? Hard to believe, given the other stuff Mukasey said today, but someone ought to at least ask.
Michael Mukasey’s
Use this thread to liveblog EITHER the FISA debate or the Senate Mukasey hearing.
