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."

[Wolfstar]

Gorelick apparently enjoys a special relationship with Kean.

Hmmm... Maybe her name should be changed from Gore-lick to Kean-lick. (I usually try to be more respectful, but this is a special case.)

[Wolfstar]

How is FNC doing with this?

Not very well. Heck the biggest topic of the day among the chat-for-hire types on TV and many talk radio shows is that President Bush didn't do a "good job" in answering the questions about whether or not he made any mistakes.

Priorities, priorities. The same jackasses who bray about how President Bush, everyone in his administration, the CIA, and the FIB missed the "dot's" before 9/11, seem unable to get their own priorities straight.

[Timeout]

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.

I haven't read this anywhere else, have you?! I heard the panel ask Reno whether she told Clinton that...she said they'd have to go behind closed doors.

But where did THIS come from?! I'm intrigued.

[Shane]

You are so right. Every major media outlet would be beating the drums relentlessly. And of course the Republicans would acquiesce, don't want to ruffle any feathers don't you know. Disgusting!

[cwb]

Far be it for me to pat myself on the back:)...but I have been posting this same information here for almost two weeks now. From my original:

I've never understood why Jamie Gorelick was on this commission, asking others questions, when she should be before it answering questions. This is a woman who wasn't just a Deputy AG under Clinton...she also served as a Gereral Counsel for the DOD under him as well. This is especially important since the Clinton administration put such a premuium on legaleze when it came to the terrorist threat. Excuse me, but who better to discuss these constrictive legalities with than Clinton's top lawyers...both at the DOJ and DOD.

If you recall, one of the reasons that the Clinton administration didn't go after the Muslims charities in this country was specifically because Clinton's DOJ was worred about public perception and fears of being called racist. As Dick Morris has even pointed out, Clinton & Co, were more concerned with a PC critiria, than a national security criteria. Who better to answer these concerns than one of Clinton's top Deputy AGs...Jamie Gorelick.

Her position as a Counsel for the DOD is just as relevent. It was obvious that many military options had to go through legal channels before any action could be taken. Even after the bombings in Sudan and Afghanistan, it was Clinton's own lawyers (Gorelick?) who questioned the legallities of such actions. Far be it for me to defend Clinton...but just where was Clinton getting the ideas that he couldn't indict OBL with the Sudan offers...I've always heard you could indict a ham sandwich?

When our Predator drones located OBL via live wire, was it again these same lawyers, ala Gorelick, who were making these decisions not to take OBL out? It is now obvious that lawyers became the ultimate decisions makers in the Clinton administration...whether it was at the DoJ or the DoD; and Gorelick filled both those positions. These are all questions that need to be asked and answered...and the fact that a key witness in this equation is on this commission is suspicious at best.

[alaskanfan]

And of course the Republicans would acquiesce,

I'm so damned tired of the way Republicans are willing to give up their core values for a compromising position with the libs.

Like Anthony Hopkins said in The Legends Of The Fall.

screw 'em

[alaskanfan]

btt

[eleni121]

Totally on point! These spineless Republicans have nothing in common with the grassroots out here who demand principles above accommodation! They "reach out" and get slapped time and time again and the what do they do? Reach out again!---

[alaskanfan]

I'm so ashamed of the republicans........I'm too aggressive to be in their party.

WTH In the sixties and seventies they were considered hawks?????? What happened????

[TheLion]

Totally agree! About time conservatives took the gloves off and matched the Democrats rhetoric.

We the public demand it!

Stand up and fight or crawl in a hole and die....that will be the end result anyway!

[Jorge]

I predict Gorelick will be gone soon.
And if not, the 9-11 commission will regret it.

Personally I am grateful that it was Ashcroft who blew the whistle on her, since the left already hates him.
It seems Gorelick is behind a big part of the problem that gave us 9-11, and this entire "get Bush" commission is backfiring on the Dems big time.
It's poetic justice..and even better that AG Ashcroft dropped the bomb. He's been unjustly abused for so long by the left.

[alaskanfan]

Personally I am grateful that it was Ashcroft who blew the whistle on her, since the left already hates him.

One question: Why should our leaders care if they are or are not on Ted Kennedy's Christmas card list?

[PISANO]

She would have been skewered and FIRED the day the memo came to light. Remember how easy the Dims got rid of Kissinger?

[Chunga]

John Ashcroft is a world-class lawyer. Obviously.

[Enduring Freedom]

TERMINATE THIS SOVIET SHOW TRIAL

Gorelick and Ben Veniste are traitors to America.

Call, write, scream - END THIS NOW

info@9-11Commission.gov

[Enduring Freedom]

TERMINATE THIS SOVIET SHOW TRIAL

Gorelick and Ben Veniste are traitors to America.

Call, write, scream - END THIS NOW

info@9-11Commission.gov

[CyberAnt]

Thanks! The repubs are acting as if it's "good ole boy" as usual .. and the dems are going for the jugular. I've written snail mail to a lot of repubs regarding this and their idiotic statement "esteemed colleague". I told them it's insulting me for them to call these vulchers by that name .. especially since there are young men on the battlefield who are much more deserving of that title.

[Eastbound]

"Who ordered you to write the memo?"

'I can't tell you. Besides, she'll be vewwy mad at me if I did.'