Posted on 03/19/2005 8:00:19 AM PST by beyond the sea
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said Friday that subpoenas issued by Sen. Mike Enzi compelling Terri Schiavo to appear at a March 28 congressional hearing made it a crime to disconnect her feeding tube - and threatened anyone who interfered with her testimony with jail.
In a statement issued by the majority leader's office, Frist said:
"Federal criminal law protects witnesses called before official Congressional committee proceedings from anyone who may obstruct or impede a witness’ attendance or testimony."
"More specifically," said the Senate's top Republican, "the law protects a witness from anyone who - by threats, force, or by any threatening letter or communication - influences, obstructs, or impedes an inquiry or investigation by Congress.
"Anyone who violates this law is subject to criminal fines and imprisonment," Frist said.
His comments appeared to be directed at Florida state judge George Greer, who brazenly defied the Enzi subpoena on Friday and ordered Schiavo's starvation to commence.
Frist's statement echoed comments by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who said late Friday that he intended to charge Greer with contempt of Congress.
"No little judge sitting in a state district court in Florida is going to usurp the authority of Congress," he complained.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
You are so very kind with your compliment! I know some people are getting frustrated. Thank you for taking the time to be positive!
"In fairness to Frist, I don't believe he has the authority to order the Marshalls to take action."
You are correct. He does not. The Federal Marshals are under the DOJ, which is part of the Executive branch. Congress can't tell them to do a darned thing.
Further, while a committee may issue a subpoena, it has no tools with which to enforce it before the date of the ordered appearance.
Frist is blowing smoke here, and he's very likely to lose. Jeb Bush is being silent, more or less, and Bush is only giving lip service to Terri's cause.
Frist will only embarrass himself in this one, I'm quite sure.
empty words IMHO. Pity it would be great to see. Let us face it next it will be Traffic court dictating Federal Policy.
Reno got a court to order the handover of Elian. So far, we have struck out in getting any court to stop the murder of Terri Schiavo. Florida courts go along with Judge Greer. Federal courts are apparently not backing up Congress' right to issue subpoenas in connection with Congressional investigations. That's a troubling development.
If you saw post # 70, you wouldn't be acting like an eight year old. Lighten up.
I wonder just how much more of this crap us American conservatives are going to take before a revolution. If not, then in months time there will be nothing left when The Hildabeast takes over. GW will not get the Supreme Court filled with a conservative majority. I guarantee such. Actually what really has he done for the religious right that was responsible for his re-election? This issue & that of the illegals has sent the message that this administration & congress is AWOL.
I did not put it anywhere so well as you did. Thank you for being able to explain it to others whereas I could not.
Ditto.
Why do you think they call Florida "God's waiting room"?
They exploit the dying and make money off of it and older people still flock to Florida NOT knowing that they will be treated less than human when they need the MOST kindness.
Why would people who want to keep this woman alive not do something about it over the weekend? Is that so they have something to talk about on the Sunday shows? This is not a game, Mr. President on down - this is a person's life. If you want to keep her alive, the time to do something is now - not after a weekend of starvation and dehydration.
Yada yada.
I said in post # 70 that I know little about the law, and that my comment was purely about the state's rights/Federalism issue.
Lighten up, you're in a petulant spiral, girl.
Thanks.
If they do euthenize Terri with morphine I am led to believe there will be no autopsy. That means no toxicology. No oversight of the killing. I sounds like Clinton/Reno bulldozing Mt.Carmal out of Waco. I am led to understand that the husband is going to cremate her body as soon as dead, not even allowing her parents a memorial service. Who is looking over Michael Shiavos' shoulder....Is it the judge? Who is looking over the shoulder of the Judge. So far, noone.
Wrong again. Both bills on schiavo referenced congress's authority under section 5 of the 14th amendment, to enforce federal civil rights by congressional statute. congress can legitimately hold hearings related to the exercise of that authority -- and in doing so, congress is empowered to subpeona witness, even merely for examination if questioning isn't possible (because of a witness's condtion, such as with terri).
Try reading at least a basic primer on american constitutional law before spouting off so indignantly (and ignorantly) You'd cause yourself less embarrassment
"I read somewhere yesterday that she would be getting morphine, which affects respiratory function--it depresses it. It will hasten her death."
Unless you have a source, the only place that I read that was right here on a different thread that was pulled because it was 'unsubstantiated'.
While I cannot substantiate what is happening or will happen with Terri in regards to the Morphine, I can say from experience that the usual course is that as she dehydrates and becomes uncomfortable from that process, Morphine will be given for comfort. My personal concern with Terri is that they may hasten giving the Morphine to move things along faster, before any more can be done to save her.
Yes, you sure are a perfect exhibit of that.
I had heard it too, that Terri was getting morphine, and when my Mom died of cancer, morphine was part of the standard operating procedures. I have only read it once, in Terri's case, and perhaps it was on that thread here that was pulled. I wouldn't be surprised, tho.
"It doesn't matter. He's an employee of Bush and Gonzales and, as employers, they can make him sing their tune."
Yes, they can, but Congress cannot. It is significant that the Bush Executive Department has not acted in this matter. I do not expect them to act, either. This is not a battle they wish to enter.
"When a judge who doesn't believe in God takes his oath before God or in the name of God, I wonder what compels him to keep his oath. Who says he means it?"
No oath requires reference to any deity in this country. All oaths in the United States of America may simply be affirmed, at the option of the oathtaker.
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