Arraignment Set for Cheney, Gonzales in Prisoner Abuse Case

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: Associated Press

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas — A Texas judge has set an arraignment for Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials accused of involvement in prisoner abuse.

Presiding Judge Manuel Banales said Wednesday he will allow them to waive arraignment or have attorneys present rather than appear in person Friday.

Banales also said he would issue summonses, not warrants. That allows them to avoid arrest and the need to post bond.

Willacy County District Attorney Juan Guerra accuses Cheney, Gonzales, a state senator and others of involvement in prisoner abuse at a federal detention center in south Texas.

Defense attorney Tony Canales accuses Guerra of "prosecutorial vindictiveness" and not following procedure.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,454965,00.html

[Me.]

1. Am I Dreaming?

Is something going to actually happen?

[shadowknows69]

3. Yes, pardons.

[Independent_Liberal]

5. Not for this. These are state charges.

Presidential pardons are only for federal charges.

[Me.]

7. That Was Going To Be My Reply Too

And obviously the GJ thought the charges would hold, on the state level.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

9. you think Gov Good Hair will let this

happen?

[man4allcats]

13. I think Gov Good Hair would do well to watch his step

in some of the more remote areas of Texas. I spent a little time camping in West Texas, and it's like a different country out there. Those folks are pretty independent minded. One would be unwise, I think, to cross them. There's nothing out there but a lot of open land and the ranchers who own it. Something could happen to you, and nobody would ever be the wiser. I realize these indictments are coming out of the southern most part of the state, but I expect the same "rules" apply. If I were Rick, I wouldn't count too much on that Governor hat. Best to leave those folks alone.

[shadowknows69]

18. Excellent. Hope you're right. I've lost all faith in any punishment for anyone but us peasants.

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. Indictment and now Arraignment

I never thought I'd see the word Arraignment this soon.

[Me.]

8. Especially When Paired With The Word

Cheney

[shadowknows69]

2. accuses Guerra of "prosecutorial vindictiveness" and not following procedure.

No, procedure would be to go get the criminals and frog march them into court.

[leapinggnome]

6. do they really think

that Cheney and Gonzales are really going to honor the summons? Or is this just, well, symbolic? Somebody set me straight on the purpose of this, please?

[msatty99]

10. This will not go anywhere

I doubt this will go anywhere. To make a criminal charge stick the prosecutor would need to show actual knowledge of
the criminal conduct on behalf of Cheney. As evil as he may be, its hard to imagine him being privy to
the details of the operation of the jail in this little texas county. I will be surprised if this
case withstands a motion to dismiss.

[FirstLight]

11. I know most of us don't want to get our hopes up....BUT

Maybe if we support this, it will stick.
It is a self-fulfilling prophecy to doubt that JUSTICE may stand a chance or not.

SO... what can we do to help? shall we flood the prosecuters office with praise or asking what we can do as citizens to help the case? Texans...help me out with the legal mumbojumbo...is there anything the public at large can do to help move a case into trial?

I would surely be willing to dig and help sort through evidence :evilgrin:

I would also volunteer to give Cheney ( & the rest of them) a taste of their own medicine...let's tie them up and see how they like being "interrogeted"!!!

mmmm..nice visions.... :evilgrin:


edit, darn punctuation!

[Ohio Joe]

12. Seems fair, everyone deserves a fair trial

And when it is over, I hope the jury decides these particular defendants also get a nice prison cell.

[garybeck]

14. Does this mean the judge signed the indictments?

Guerra was on Air America Radio today but I just caught the tail end of it. Does anyone archive the John Elliot show?

[AllyCat]

15. My God how I love seeing these headlines.

Please, please, please make it so and unpardonable!

[jeff30997]

16. Yes,I love those headlines too.

According to Independent_Liberal (Post #5):"Presidential pardons are only for federal charges."

So if convicted no pardon for those scums.

[pam4water]

17. I can't see anyne from the Bush Administartion getting convided of anything in Texas :(

[MadrasT]

19. Kick and R because I've been waiting for so long to see:

"Arraignment set for Cheney" as a thread title.... :bounce:

I have no illusions that anything will actually come from it, but... still... gotta take joy where you can find it.

:kick: