Posted on 07/13/2010 9:17:49 PM PDT by jazusamo
A letter from Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA) to Glenn Fine — inspector general of the U. S. Department of Justice — asking the IG to launch an investigation into the dismissal of U.S. v. New Black Panther Party — has been made available exclusively to Pajamas Media some hours before its formal release by the congressman.
Wolf is the ranking member of the Commerce-Justice-Science Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee — the committee that controls appropriations for the Department of Justice. Though a Republican, Wolf is known as a moderate and a firm supporter of the Voting Rights Act.
This is the latest of several letters on the Panther case sent by Wolf to the inspector general and to Attorney General Eric Holder. They have been almost completely ignored. He has written this most recent letter in the aftermath of testimony by former Department of Justice attorney J. Christian Adams before the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights.
July 14, 2010
Mr. Glenn Fine
Inspector General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20530Dear Mr. Fine:
In light of the recent testimony of Mr. J. Christian Adams before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR), we urge you again to investigate the dismissal of U.S. v. New Black Panther Party. Over the last year, we have asked you on multiple occasions to investigate this matter to no avail. In light of the mounting evidence of improper activities in the department’s Civil Rights Division (CRD), we urge you again to immediately initiate an investigation into this matter.
There is something rotten happening at the department under your watch. Your continued refusal to investigate has been — and remains — inexcusable. One can only surmise that your failure to investigate stems from a fear of upsetting the department’s senior political leadership, some of whom could be directly tied to the dismissal of this case. However, as inspector general, you have a legal and moral obligation to go wherever truth takes you.
As you are aware from our previous correspondence, which we have enclosed for your review, this case was inexplicably dismissed last year — over the ardent objections of the career attorneys overseeing the case as well as the division’s own appeal office. Despite repeated requests for information by members of Congress, the press, and the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the department continues to stonewall efforts to obtain all information regarding the case’s abrupt dismissal. Recent events and information has compounded this troubling situation.
Mr. Adams was a career attorney with CRD before resigning last month in response to the department’s illegitimate instruction that he not comply with a USCCR subpoena. We are deeply concerned that the department, which is statutorily obliged to execute USCCR subpoenas, is in fact obstructing individuals from complying in this matter. We believe that this obstruction — aside from the many troubling actions surrounding the dismissal of the case — merits an investigation into the department’s enforcement of the commission’s statutory authority.
Additionally, we are concerned about revelations from Mr. Adams’ testimony that Deputy Assistant Attorney General Julie Fernandes, a political appointee, reportedly forbid CRD attorneys from bringing forward additional voting intimidation cases in which the defendant was a national minority. We believe that this allegation merits immediate investigation. There is no excuse for the selective application of federal law based on the whims of political appointees.
You should also be aware that Rep. Wolf has asked the Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) to review your failure to investigate this matter. It is our understanding that the CIGIE’s Integrity Committee will be discussing your actions at its July meeting. We appreciate the CIGIE’s prompt attention to this matter and look forward to its response.
We urge you again to investigate the myriad of troubling issues surrounding the dismissal of this case. With the commission obstructed from fully conducting its investigation and the congressional majority turning a blind eye, the inspector general must be willing to ensure the integrity of the department. We appeal to you to fulfill the duties of your office.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
The silly thing is that if the cops had been called and actually acted to correct the matter at the polling station...then this mess would never have occurred. We’ve allowed a third-rate situation to snowball...and today...some folks at the Justice Department could face serious accusations because they just couldn’t handle the case.
You’re right, the cops were called and kissed it off, I guess they didn’t think voter intimidation was a big deal.
Sadly, we only have a Dept of INJUSTICE now. I hope they stay on this. These thugs need to know they can’t do this again.
Oh yeah? Well we won. So **** off Wolf!
-liberal response
Or maybe the cops wanted the Panthers to show Obama’s true colors...
This failure to commence with the litigation of this case should be grounds for impeachment of the President.
Now this might concentrate the reluctant IG's mind wonderfully. Of course, if he's doing the White House's bidding, he will feel that BHO will take care of him no matter what the CIGIE says about his conduct. I appreciate Rep. Wolf keeping on this. It is an important issue for all Americans. We can see with our own eyes that a horrible incident of voter intimidation occurred. If our government won't do its job to protect citizens from such crimes, it is asking for more trouble.
Very good, Prov!
There are some very creative folks at The People’s Cube!
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