Gorelick-gate: 9/11 Commission Rocked by Scandal

NewsMax.com ^ | 4/14/04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[kattracks]

The independent commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks may be about to implode amidst partisan recriminations and charges of conflict of interest, with the chairman House Judiciary Committee calling on one of the panel's leading members to resign.

Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., demanded on Wednesday that former Clinton administration deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick resign from the investigation, charging that she "has an inherent conflict of interest as the author of this memo and as a government official at the center of the events in question."

The Gorelick memo, issued under the authority of the Justice Department in 1995, was blamed by Attorney General John Ashcroft on Tuesday for hampering the ability of the FBI and CIA to cooperate in terrorist investigations.

Other aspects of Gorelick's tenure suggest more conflicts, such as questions about what role, if any, she played in advising President Clinton that there was no legal basis to extradite Osama bin Laden to the U.S. when he was offered by Sudan in 1996.

Another problem: Gorelick's lawfirm represents Saudi Prince Mohammed al Faisal, a potential defendant in the litigation being brought by the 9/11 families. A finding by the Commission that 9/11 was preventable could take some of the heat off of Gorelick's Saudi clients.

Commission Chairman Tom Kean, however, dismissed suggestions that Gorelick was unfit to serve on Wednesday, complaining that Sensenbrenner and other Commission critics should "stay out of our business."

Gorelick apparently enjoys a special relationship with Kean. She boasted last week that she was the only other commissioner besides Kean and co-chair Lee Hamilton who had access to every one of the presidential daily briefings.

Gorelick's public conduct in recent days has only exacerbated perceptions of impropriety.

Last Thursday, when asked whether the Commission's finding would impact on the presidential election, Gorelick told MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews, "[The report] will raise some very fundamental issues."

Minutes later, Gorelick beamed as Matthews referred to her as a "former deputy attorney general [who] may well be attorney general again."

[Brian Allen]

<< [United States of America's President and Armed-Forces Commander-In-Chief, George Walker] Bush had to have known this about her from the beginning.

Hehehe. >>

Why, what a naughty idea.

Fancy believing poor dumb and bumbling American President and Armed-Forces Commander-In-Chief, George Walker Bush, capable of playing politics like that.

Why next you know -- and particularly if he goes on faciliating his much-vauted superior opponents in the ripping off of their own arms and leggs -- and heads -- someone will be calling him the World Champion Jujitu* Politician -- or summit like that!

[As I already did, two and a half years ago]

*Jujitsu: the Japanese art of self-defense without weapons that depends for its efficiency largely upon the principle of making use of an opponent's own "strength" and "weight" to disable or injure him.

[Travis McGee]

This is so disgusting. The 'rats have no shame, the RINOs have no spines.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1117579/posts
GORELICK GATE: Developing...
various FR links | 04-14-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[nopardons]

btt

[samtheman]

By the standards of this commission, Julius Streicher should have been a judge at the Nuremberg trials, not a defendent.

[freeangel]

That would be the democrat american people trying to nail Pres. Bush to the cross.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Kean is unfit to serve.

[stillafreemind]

Kudos to Mr. Sensenbrenner! I am soooo glad there is still a republican representative up there. Now..Lott, Delay..you all better get up and take a stand on this.

I think Gorelick should not only step down...but I think she should be put in the hot seat for a while. And while she's there..it would be kinda poetic justice to have Condi Rice ask HER a few little nagging questions!!LOL!!

Thanks for this post!

[Dante3]

bttt

[Homer1]

Excuse me, but is even (gutless) Drudge carrying this one?

ridiculous

[Mogollon]

What's SICK is that if she was a GOPer the press would be running with the memo like it was WWIII !

How is FNC doing with this? The hotel I'm staying at (Hilton) only has CNN so I can only get left-wing news.

[1Old Pro]

Gorelick has single handedly destroyed any credibility this commission "might" have had. This is typical of the Bush haters, they want to destroy him but end up destroying themselves.

What's up with Kean defending Gorelick, sheesh, the house of cards this commission has become is falling and the members are circling the wagons on the titanic.

[plain talk]

THE DEMOCRATS ARE AT WAR WITH THE REPUBLICANS - but the repubs are not on a "war footing".

One of the best statements I've read in a while. Sums it up well.

[Travis McGee]

info@9-11commission.gov

This was my email; please write your own and send it along. Let's bury them in mail!

Subject: Consider Your Reputations

It's an absolute disgrace that you are not asking the 100% compromised Ms. Gorelick to resign from your panel, and instead to sit as a witness under oath for her part in the 9-11 disaster.

Your commission is becoming a national laughingstock. All of your personal reputations will wind up in the sewer with Ms. Gorelick's if you cannot bring yourselves to demand that she step down.

America is watching this travesty!

Signed

My Real Name,
San Diego

[brityank]

Agreed; bury them. Also, copy your Representative and both Senators -- they 'work' for you too.

My Email:

To the Honorable Committee:

Please convey my thanks to Ms. Gorelick for proving that the Trojan Horse was not a mere figmented imagining of ancient history, but is a valued and present part of the political landscape in Washington.

As a Citizen and a Registered Voter, I demand that Ms. Gorelick be dismissed from her position on the Commission, and be brought to testify before it under oath. I also ask that a re-examination of several of your prior witnesses be conducted in light of her declassified memo presented by Mr. Ashcroft in his testimony of April 13, 2004.

Sincerely,
brityank's real name and address.

cc: Senator
Senator
Representative

[P.S. Finished the book; it's too short. LOL. Great read, nicely done.]

[Travis McGee]

BTTT!

[The Wizard]

she must step down

[conqueror]

Just followed up with my own message expressing similar sentiments.
Also in San Diego (Rancho Bernardo)

[AGreatPer]

I just have one question Ms. Gorlick.

Who ordered you to write the memo?

[Travis McGee]

Great, the more the better!