Justice Department Opens Inquiry Into Memo Theft

New York Times ^ | 04-27-04 | Eric Lichtblau

[MamaLucci]

WASHINGTON, April 26 — The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into accusations that Republican Congressional aides stole sensitive Democratic memorandums, and the department has tapped David N. Kelley, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, to lead the politically charged case, officials said Monday.

The decision to bring in Mr. Kelley, rather than have prosecutors in Washington pursue the case, came after lawmakers from both parties urged the Justice Department to appoint an independent prosecutor to avoid the appearance of a conflict.

The department said in a letter dated Monday that it was confident that Mr. Kelley would conduct the investigation "in a thorough, fair, impartial and professional manner." Several leading Democrats applauded his appointment, with Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York saying it was "a very good first step."

[Numbers Guy]

Of course the real crime is the content of those memos.

[OXENinFLA]

MEMOGATE PING

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[MamaLucci]

Of course.

[OPS4]

Reprinted from NewsMax.com

Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2004 1:11 AM EDT
Kerry Blackout: Couldn't Recall Where He Lived for 20 Months

Facing a tough reelection battle and questions about his personal finances, Sen. John Kerry told the Boston Globe in 1996 that he couldn't remember where he lived for nearly two years in the 1980's, only to admit later that wealthy contributors had put him up in the Boston area.

Less than a month before his election face-off with Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, the Globe reported that during an interview, Kerry "at first insisted that he did not recall where he lived when he returned to Boston [from Washington, D.C.] for regular visits over a 20-month period in 1987 and 1988."

"Only later did he acknowledge that he used [Edward W.] Callan's condominium on Beacon Street in the Back Bay for eight or nine months during that time," the paper said.

Kerry and his top political advisor Ronald Rosenblith offered what the Globe described as "contradictory and sometimes erroneous information" about Kerry's housing arrangements, in a bid to hide the identities of Callan and two other Boston-area developers who had put Kerry up and helped him out financially.

The Democratic presidential candidate insisted at the time that he had no obligation to report the largesse of his friends as gifts on his Senate disclosure forms, which require members to list gifts valued at $ 250 or more, the Globe said.

Kerry also insisted that he did not violate Senate rules that bar taking gifts of more than $ 100 from anyone with a "direct interest" in legislation.

Instead, the Massachusetts Democrat insisted he was merely accepting the kind of "hospitality" permitted under Senate rules.

Kerry's decision to accept the hospitality of wealthy friends wasn't limited to his living arrangements.

While he was lieutenant governor in 1983 and 1984, Kerry leased several cars from Boston-area Buick dealer Bob Brest - but failed to make a single payment for 16 months.

When a reporter inquired about the sweetheart deal, Kerry launched a cover-up, hastily issuing a flurry of back payments to make the arrangement look more legitimate.

Kerry later explained the accumulation of late payments as "a series of billing mishaps," the Globe said.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:


2004 Elections
John Kerry On the Record



108-108

[MamaLucci]

The fact that Hatch has gone along with this travesty
proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is COMPROMISED,
and belongs NO WHERE NEAR SCOTUS.

[taxcontrol]

Here is the problem that any attempt to convict these individuals.

1) Files were on a SHARED system
2) The aides had been granted access to the system
3) Files were in an UNSECURED area of the system
4) Owners of the files were NOTIFIED that their files were unsecured.
5) After being notified, the owners took no action to secure the files. This indicates passive agreement that the files are not worth protection.
6) The aides simply read and printed files which they had PERMISSIONS to access.

In the computers security field, the standard used to test such cases is that the individual must make an OVERT action to obtain files to which they did NOT have permission to access.

However, I can not speak to the other charges.

[b4its2late]

Several leading Democrats applauded his appointment, with Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York saying it was "a very good first step."

When this happens, I'm always a bit suspicious....

[MamaLucci]

When this happens, I'm always a bit suspicious....

With good reason.....they whole-heartedly accepted Tom Keane as the 911 Commission chair.....

[abner]

Ping!

[MamaLucci]

Ex-GOP Aide Sees Trouble Ahead for Dems on 'Memogate'

[b4its2late]

True.

[kimoajax]

Over the years I have observed, especially with Republicans, that they owe their first allegiance to Senate colleagues and not the voters or America. This is but a quintessential example.

[wildbill]

Isn't there some kind of federal 'whistleblower' law that protects someone in government who exposes wrongdoing?

[MamaLucci]

Isn't there some kind of federal 'whistleblower' law that protects someone in government who exposes wrongdoing?

Yes.....if you are blowing the whistle on Republicans.
You will also make the covers of Time and Newsweak.

[wildbill]

Isn't there some kind of federal 'whistleblower' law that protects someone in government who exposes wrongdoing?

Yes.....if you are blowing the whistle on Republicans.
You will also make the covers of Time and Newsweak.

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Post : LOL!