The Wrong Message
One of the defining characteristics of this administration has been its penchant for secrecy. Every decision, every move is so hidden from view that no one has any idea of what is really going on. This penchant for complete opacity has enabled the White House to successfully cook intelligence to justify an illegal and immoral war, to set up vast systems for spying on its own citizens, and to roll back centuries-old legal protections. The White House has become very good at gaming our democratic system through its skill at hiding the truth.
This is why the deal Rep. John Conyers cut with the the Justice Department to interview various witnesses behind closed doors in the House investigation into the firing of the eight US Attorneys is so very disappointing. It sends the wrong message to the public. I think an editorial in today's NY Times got it right.
The House Judiciary Committee has begun conducting closed-door interviews with some of the key officials involved in the Bush administration’s purge of United States attorneys. The interviews may be harmless as long as they are merely a first step in the investigation. But they must not become a substitute for what this investigation really requires: sworn public testimony under oath by Karl Rove, the presidential adviser; Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel; and everyone else involved.
John Conyers, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced an agreement with the Department of Justice to have at least eight current and former employees sit for transcribed interviews behind closed doors with House and Senate investigators. ...
Secret interviews are not a good idea. They do not help the public learn what happened or judge whether there were abuses.
While I can understand the desire on Mr. Conyers part to get the necessary information as quickly as possible without the necessity of judicial intervention, this is no time for "deals" and cutting corners even if the investigation is only in a preliminary stage. If the Department of Justice and the White House refuse to cooperate with the congressional inquiries, then the public needs to know this. Let the citizens draw their own conclusions: they are smart enough to wonder what the administration is trying to hide.
After six plus years of secrecy we are entitled to some transparency in government. That is a primary key to a healthy democracy.
I'm sorry, Mr. Conyers. I disagree with you on this one. Let the sun shine on the investigation to show the public what they've been missing.
This is why the deal Rep. John Conyers cut with the the Justice Department to interview various witnesses behind closed doors in the House investigation into the firing of the eight US Attorneys is so very disappointing. It sends the wrong message to the public. I think an editorial in today's NY Times got it right.
The House Judiciary Committee has begun conducting closed-door interviews with some of the key officials involved in the Bush administration’s purge of United States attorneys. The interviews may be harmless as long as they are merely a first step in the investigation. But they must not become a substitute for what this investigation really requires: sworn public testimony under oath by Karl Rove, the presidential adviser; Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel; and everyone else involved.
John Conyers, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced an agreement with the Department of Justice to have at least eight current and former employees sit for transcribed interviews behind closed doors with House and Senate investigators. ...
Secret interviews are not a good idea. They do not help the public learn what happened or judge whether there were abuses.
While I can understand the desire on Mr. Conyers part to get the necessary information as quickly as possible without the necessity of judicial intervention, this is no time for "deals" and cutting corners even if the investigation is only in a preliminary stage. If the Department of Justice and the White House refuse to cooperate with the congressional inquiries, then the public needs to know this. Let the citizens draw their own conclusions: they are smart enough to wonder what the administration is trying to hide.
After six plus years of secrecy we are entitled to some transparency in government. That is a primary key to a healthy democracy.
I'm sorry, Mr. Conyers. I disagree with you on this one. Let the sun shine on the investigation to show the public what they've been missing.
Labels: 110th Congress, Justice Department
posted by Diane at 4:26 AM
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