Hearing on Controversial Dem Memos Could Be Soon

CBNNews ^ | April 27, 2004 | David Brody Congressional Correspondent

[The Mayor]

POLITICS
Hearing on Controversial Dem Memos Could Be Soon

By David Brody
Congressional Correspondent

April 27, 2004

The content of the memos detail how Democrats on the
Senate Judiciary Committee seem to be taking marching
orders from liberal special-interest groups,
when it comes to derailing President Bush's judicial nominees.

CBN.com – CAPITOL HILL - Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee may find themselves on the hot seat soon, especially Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

CBN News has learned that there is a good chance the Senate will hold hearings on Democratic memos that reveal possible collusion and obstruction of justice between some Democratic senators and liberal special-interest groups.

A Washington source is telling CBN News that a hearing on these controversial memos could be held in the Senate sometime before the election, possibly sooner. And when the spotlight shines, Sen. Kennedy's role in all of this is expected to take center stage.

The content of the memos detail how Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee seem to be taking marching orders from liberal special-interest groups, when it comes to derailing President Bush's judicial nominees. And one of those memos involves the appearance of conflict of interest in an important court case at the time.

A Kennedy staffer, Olati Johnson, wrote that memo. In the memo, she urged Sen. Kennedy to try to delay the confirmation of Julia Gibbons to the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

At the time, that court was about to rule on an affirmative action case. The memo urged that the judge's nomination be delayed so that the court would rule the way liberals wanted- in favor of affirmative action.

The memo says, "The thinking is that the current 6th Circuit will sustain the affirmative action program, but if a new judge with conservative views is confirmed before the case is decided, that new judge will be able, under 6th Circuit rules, to review the case and vote on it."

It turns out that is exactly what happened. Gibbons was confirmed after the case was decided in favor of affirmative action. And it also turns out that before working for Kennedy, Johnson was co-counsel in that affirmative action case.

George Washington University Law professor Jonathan Turley says this smacks of conflict of interest.

Turley said, "When it comes to ethical and legal matters, this is pretty much a 20-car pileup. It is a very serious issue."

And it goes even deeper. The memo also reveals that Johnson consulted Kennedy's chief counsel at the time, Melody Barnes, and they both expressed concern about what they were doing.

Johnson said, "Melody and I are a little concerned about the propriety of scheduling hearings based on the resolution of a particular case. Nevertheless, we recommend that Gibbons be scheduled for a later hearing."

"What is astonishing," said Turley, "is that Sen. Kennedy has not come forward that to say this is an improper type of conduct for his staff."

As to what exactly Sen. Kennedy's role was in all of this, that is unclear. But if or when these hearings get started, the topic is expected to come up. Turley believes a congressional investigation is needed.

"What is at stake here, is the process and the integrity of both the United States Senate and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals," Turley said. "These are allegations that have not been fully answered."

[Bubba_Leroy]

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee may find themselves on the hot seat soon, especially Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

When pigs fly out of my butt.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see it (democRATs on the hot seat, not monkeys out of my butt), but it will never happen. The media will continue to give them endless cover and the republicans don't have the balls to take it to the mat.

[The Mayor]

Notice whose name is missing, and it states "accusations that the republicans stole memo's" nothing about what was in them or pointing fingers.

That is most likely how this will play out, they will probably even compare it to watergate, the republicans 'stole' that's all that will matter.......


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."

[The Mayor]

I'd love to see it (democRATs on the hot seat, not monkeys out of my butt),

I would hope not..

They need to be on the hot seat, but it will be played out as the repubs stole memos..

[Be Free]

This explains the vicious attacks Fat-Teddy has been making on our President: He's knows this hearing is coming; knows how bad he and the Dem's are going to look. Fully expect him to say that the hearings are sham, and nothing more than a thinly veiled retaliation against him for taking a stance against W. What a snake ...

[MamaLucci]

As usual in DC, it has been a case of mutual assured
destruction... if you show our memos, we'll show yours.
Should get interesting.

[gakrak]

It's really tough when it's family that becomes brain damaged.
I have several relatives with the same mental illness and blindness to the Dems.

[AD from SpringBay]

And this will be during prime time, ABCCBSNBC?

[The Mayor]

but of course, 'not'....

ted is their buddy

[jmstein7]

Oh, baby!!! Let the hearings begin!

[FourtySeven]

It disgusts me that not one of the news agencies has picked this up.

Amen to that.

[Made In The USA]

I'm mostly public school educated- thoughts by those on this threat of how significant is this on the political richter scale?

[Rocky]

"I see no reason to think that senate RINOs are growing a backbone. Maybe if Toomey took out Specter, there might be some hope, but the RINOs control the Senate...they jump across the party lines to control what does and does not get done. They are the reason we don't have conservative judges."

Unfortunately, there is much truth in what you say. What good is having a Senate seat if the person in it votes most often with your opposition? And if they wouldn't convict the impeached Liar, why does anyone think they will go after one of their own?

[talleyman]

Memo-Gate Bump!

[The Mayor]

Turley said, "When it comes to ethical and legal matters, this is pretty much a 20-car pileup. It is a very serious issue."

That statement from J. Turley says alot. There is supposed to be a seperation of powers.
What ted k has done is interfere with the courts making a ruling, he illegally delayed the appointment of a judge in order to wait for the court decision to come down, It came down as he wanted.

He was influenced by a left wing group in favor of affermative action, it boils down to 'obstruction of justice' and using political influence to alter the outcome of a judical decision.

This whole filibuster over judges is completly unconstitutional, the spineless republicans allowed it, they should all be replaced. kennedy needs to be put in a car and dumped over a bridge (Lord forgive me for saying that)..

[The Mayor]

I'm mostly public school educated

After thought, I was also publically schooled and quit in 1972.

I learned nothing there cept how to skip school and smoke pot, LOL!

[birdsman]

"I see no reason to think that senate RINOs are growing a backbone. Maybe if Toomey took out Specter, there might be some hope, but the RINOs control the Senate...they jump across the party lines to control what does and does not get done. They are the reason we don't have conservative judges."

Although Toomey lost, he made it close enough to make the other RINOs nervous. The closeness of that primary also will encourage other conservatives to challenge RINO incumbants.