Leahy Backs Commission to Investigate Bush-Era Abuses
Back in January, TPM crowned its first Sleeper Bill of the Month, praising a proposal by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) that would set up an independent panel -- with subpoena power -- to probe civil liberties and human rights abuses committed during the Bush years.
The measure has yet to receive a hearing, but it's slowly amassing support from connected Democratic lawmakers, with the biggest breakthrough coming about an hour ago. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), in a speech at Georgetown University, endorsed the creation of an independent "truth and reconciliation" commission. Here's what Leahy said:
We need to get to the bottom of what happened -- and why -- so we make sure it never happens again.One path to that goal would be a reconciliation process and truth commission. We could develop and authorize a person or group of people universally recognized as fair minded, and without axes to grind. Their straightforward mission would be to find the truth. People would be invited to come forward and share their knowledge and experiences, not for purposes of constructing criminal indictments, but to assemble the facts. If needed, such a process could involve subpoena powers, and even the authority to obtain immunity from prosecutions in order to get to the whole truth.
We've asked Leahy's office whether he plans to submit a Senate version of Conyers' bill, which would set an initial commission budget of $3 million -- a small price to pay for a little accountability.
Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
The GOP likes playing lip service to breaking from the Bush years - what better way to prove it than to enthusiastically support a full investigation?
Also considering the partisan voting lines of the stimulus bill, it's not like the Administration or Dems have anything to lose in investigation the Bush White House. "What, if we investigate Bush you're going to become completely obstructionist? How's that any different than what you're doing now and planning to do the rest of the way anyways?"
February 9, 2009 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even Worse : if the Malefactors are not busted they will be back in government with promotions.
The Republicans will be back in power, maybe in eight years, and then Addington and Mukasey and Harriet Miers will be back in high office. One doubts they will mellow with age.
It has happened many times so let's not get confused.
Addington for AG ? Why not ? He has name recognition.
Even the most assiduous liar of all, Rice, will be back.
Senator Leahy : Please do investigate them all.
February 9, 2009 6:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
On why we should investigate Bush now: “We need to be able to read the page before we turn the page."
Pat Leahy--he ain't no bandleader!
February 9, 2009 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, it is the job of the Congress to investigate the Bush Administration. Let's hope they do it.
February 9, 2009 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm with Jonathan Turly on this one. If the Obama administraion and Dems do not hold the Bush administration accountable for its lawlessness then they are condoning it.
February 9, 2009 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, Turley went even further saying, if the administration lets these war criminals walk, they (the administration) own the crimes and are every bit as guilty as the perpetrators.
Moreover, said Turley, if they aren't prosecuted it sets the stage for ever more escalating crimes down the road, a pattern which can be traced to beginning (in earnest) with the pardoning of Nixon.
Screw this "Truth and Reconciliation" bullshit. What needs to happen is a fulfillment our national and international legal obligations. These bastards MUST be tried and sentenced, hopefully to spend the rest of their lives in a 6x9 cell.
Personally, I'm sick and tired of harboring known (not to mention, self-admitted) war criminals. And paying them generous pensions, no less.
February 9, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Congress' job to investigate a former President and his Administration.
We shouldn't expect, nor should we want an incoming Administration to investigate its predecessors. That would be too destructive to our system, and could not be trusted. Can you imagine the Bushies going after Clinton, or Clinton going after GHWB?
Personally, I like the peaceful transition of power.
February 9, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
errata: Turley.
February 9, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
As the stimulus saga demonstrated, most Dems leave their balls behind before climbing the Hill. So my faith on is flimsy, to put it generously.
I'm always a fan of Leahy though, even more since his cameo with Heath.
February 9, 2009 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I like Leahy too, but had the opposite reaction to his cameo. Politicians love themselves just as much as Hollywood stars, and are nearly as transparent.
February 9, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
will the obama administration investigate the kidnapping and torture, i mean extraordinary rendition?
February 9, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well you can't simply blow them up with predator strikes when they're in crowded cities.
February 9, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope Leahy and Conyers both keep hammering at this, with or without tacit or explicit encouragement from the Obama administration. It needs to happen, and it needs to happen fast.
(Besides, it might be the only way to keep Dick "Dick" Cheney from giving more of his charming interviews.)
February 9, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama won't appoint a special prosecutor unless forced to do so. So let's force him. Learning "what happened so it doesn't happen again" is not enough. Do we take criminals at their word that they won't commit crimes again? No, we have mandatory minimum sentences for them. What's the mandatory minimum sentence for going on a torture spree and corrupting the D.O.J.?
February 9, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
sure, I can just see Cheney waltzing up and confessing to what amounts to war crimes (by Nuremberg or Geneva standards). maybe he'll squeeze in a visit after his next hunting trip, provided he doesn't shoot anyone in the face?
no, I want criminal indictments, starting with those responsible for the (at least) 4,243 counts of murder in Iraq.
February 9, 2009 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
So NOW, finally, Leahy feels somthing besides writing pathetic, pleading letters asking for information from the Bushies about Bush lawbreaking needs to be done. Too late. He allowed himself and his committee to be laughed at when Bush was in office. A typical Senate Democratic wimp. What a joke.
February 9, 2009 9:32 PM | Reply | Permalink