Whitehouse & Leahy Scold Cornyn & Specter for Asking for No Prosecution Guarantee

[kpete]

Whitehouse and Leahy Scold Cornyn and Specter for Asking for No Prosecution Guarantee
By: emptywheel Wednesday January 28, 2009 8:50 am


The 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 on. We don't ask judicial candidates their position on a case, the notion that a person who is a candidate for AG should have to make a prosecutative decision before he has even read the file or before he has even been read into the program at question.

And Leahy said they were thinking "Alice in Wonderland" if they thought any prosecutor would make such a commitment before reviewing the facts of a case.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/28/whitehouse-and-leahy-scold-cornyn-and-specter-for-asking-for-no-prosecution-guarantee/

[Sinistrous]

1. From this, I gather Cornyn and Specter did not get what they wanted.

Good news.

I knew their request was dirty and self serving, but Mr. Whitehouse put it so much more eloquently than I could.

[Wapsie B]

2. No prosecutions for torture?

What planet are these people from?

[tbyg52]

11. Planet Texas, at least in the case of dear John.

He's disgusting.

[Fleshdancer]

3. bastards

Just when I think I can't be any more disgusted by my senator, he gives me new reasons to want to put my foot in his ass.

[bdamomma]

5. Cornyn or Specter, if they are up for re election in 2010 you know

what to do. Vote them out!!!!

Both Leahy and Whitehouse slapped them down goood!!!!!!!!!!

[Fleshdancer]

8. I'm going to do a lot more than vote out Cornyn.

I'll sell my soul to get him out of office. I didn't do enough for Noriega (the man who ran against Cornyn), but I promise do do whatever it takes next time.

[FatDave]

9. I know it's the age of Barack Hussein Obama and all...

...but I have to think that sharing a name with a famous 1980's Panamanian drug lord (with CIA connections even!) hurt candidate Noriega's chances.

[tbyg52]

13. Well, if it's any consolation, neither did the party, I think.

I want us some of that 50-state strategy in 2010!

[kenny blankenship]

4. Seems like an opportunity to seek a vote on censuring another Senate member

Asking a nominee for a pledge to break the law / violate his oath in exchange for a vote ought be as illegal as cash bribery.

[Winterblues]

6. Republicans must have received some assurances

They voted overwhelmingly for the appointment. We will probably never know what went on behind closed doors..I suspect there will be no investigations or Special Prosecuter appointed. Just my Hunch..

[cascadiance]

7. Party of the lawless in action! At least lawlessness for THEM!

[FatDave]

10. If it happened in a movie, you'd say it wasn't realistic.

"Wait, these senators are trying to make the AG swear to not uphold the law? Or they won't vote to confirm him? Who wrote this crap?"

[rucky]

12. Sheldon Whitehouse is quickly becoming my favorite Senator. n/t

[LSK]

14. SPECTER MUST BE FIRED IN 2010

[malaise]

15. Dems should make a big issue out of this one

I'd like to hear from Turley et al and the American Bar Association. REthugs are stark raving mad fascists. Fuck the fucking losers.

[Skidmore]

16. Spectre better never again lecture anyone on his concern for the rule of law.

[deminks]

17. How is this proposed deal not obstruction of justice?

or even pay to play. Specter is saying 'I got this thing and it is golden.' (You don't prosecute Bushies and I'll vote for you).

If anyone has a copy of this proposed deal in writing, please keep it in a safe place.