Democrats threaten to hold Bush official in contempt over Sanofi drug probe

[Celebration]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/13/america/NA-GEN-US-Sanofi-Congress-Hearing.php

Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are threatening to hold a member of President George W. Bush's Cabinet in contempt for not turning over documents in a probe of a Sanofi-Aventis antibiotic.

The threat issued Tuesday by Bart Stupak and John Dingell is the latest turn in a year-old investigation of the Sanofi drug, which was linked to death and liver failure in 2006. The Michigan Democrats allege that the Food and Drug Administration approved Ketek despite knowing a major safety study of the drug was plagued by faulty data.

Dingell, who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he would support holding Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt in contempt for refusing to turn over FDA briefing documents subpoenaed by the committee. Leavitt oversees health care agencies including the FDA, which is responsible for the safety of medicines sold in the United States.

The documents were used to prepare FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach for his appearance before lawmakers last year. Von Eschenbach testified the FDA did not use the flawed safety study to approve Ketek. Dingell and other Democrats say that statement may be untrue.

[hatrack]

1. Ooh!! Bad-ass!! Bet the Bush Administration is really scared now!!!

And when Mukasey refuses to serve the contempt citation (assuming Congressional Democrats find the guts to even issue one, wouldn't want to appear "partisan", now would we?), exactly WHAT will they do?

WHAT?

No more threats, no more talk, no more discussion. Act. Now. Or shut the FUCK UP.

[Old Codger]

2. empty threat N/T