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Frist Threatens Jail for Terri Judge(Shiavo Feeding)
Newsmax ^ | 3/19/05

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 ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; death; feeding; frist; mikeenzi; schiavo; shiavo; subpoenas; terri; terrischiavo
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To: MisterRepublican; dcuddeback
Ok, Republicans, appreciate the strong rhetoric. Time to ACT!

LOL! They are 'acting'. Just like they've been acting like fiscal conservatives for the past years. They're acting alright.

They're good at it, aren't they???

41 posted on 03/19/2005 8:15:40 AM PST by beyond the sea (Colonial Script........... or nationalize The Federal Bank..)
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To: MisterRepublican

Remember...after all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done.


42 posted on 03/19/2005 8:15:54 AM PST by Starboard
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To: kingattax
In fairness to Frist, I don't believe he has the authority to order the Marshalls to take action. It would be the Attorney General who needs to take action, if he perceives a Federal Issue. Remember that Reno got involved in Waco because they were able to phony up a "Federal" issue.
43 posted on 03/19/2005 8:16:46 AM PST by Enterprise (President George W. Bush - the leading insurgent detergent.)
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To: beyond the sea
the judge is on the right side of the law.

Since you're an expert on the laws in this case, please tell us, specifically -- by name of statute -- what "law" Judge Greer is "on the right side of." It clearly isn't the Florida law that requires clear and convincing proof of a patient's desire to have nutrition withheld, because there is no proof in this case that rises to the standard of clear and convincing. The judge has gone beyond the limits of the law, and of his authority, either because he's incompetent (that's what I vote) or he has a powerful personal agenda (I don't think he's smart enough to have such, I think he's just a bumbling hack who wasn't smart enough to do it right and is too stubborn to admit he did it wrong). But then, you know the "laws" of Florida. Please educate us in how the Judge is on "the right side" of them.

44 posted on 03/19/2005 8:17:01 AM PST by freedomdefender
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To: dwilli
Federal law also prevents the congress from usurping state's rights for political purposes.

I hear you, but do you think something should be done to give the parents their daughter at this time?

45 posted on 03/19/2005 8:17:03 AM PST by beyond the sea (Colonial Script........... or nationalize The Federal Bank..)
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To: Bigh4u2
Federal crime.

Federal Marshalls.

And we know the Marshalls know how to conduct armed commando raids to seize children in Florida. Why not go after a little state judge?

46 posted on 03/19/2005 8:17:04 AM PST by Racehorse (Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.)
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To: Bigh4u2

Issueing a summons for a person to appear before
congress that has been in a vegatative state for fifteen
years is not playing politics? Use common sense.


47 posted on 03/19/2005 8:17:42 AM PST by dwilli
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To: Bigh4u2

"Federal crime.
Federal Marshalls."

My nephew is an Ex-Marine (if there is such a thing) who was an Embassy Guard and is now a Federal Marshal operating out of Oregon. I'm sure, though, that he would take pleasure in making a trip to Florida.


48 posted on 03/19/2005 8:17:59 AM PST by Socratic (Ignorant and free will never be. - T. Jefferson (paraphrase))
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To: beyond the sea

"Actually as I understand it the judge is on the right side of the law. Although, something should have been done long before this."

In a parallel universe maybe. Ignoring a congessional supoena is NOT on the right side of the law. Regardless of whether he appreciates the motivation for the supoena's they are legal, prescribed and inviolate.


49 posted on 03/19/2005 8:18:14 AM PST by traderrob6 (http://www.exposingtheleft.blogspot.com)
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To: Nightshift; Ohioan from Florida; floriduh voter; cyn; amdgmary; pc93

ping


50 posted on 03/19/2005 8:18:21 AM PST by tutstar ( <{{--->< Impeach Judge Greer http://www.petitiononline.com/ijg520/petition.html)
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To: beyond the sea
Strange that the judge has never bothered to see go this girl.

He hasn't because he's legally blind. He can barely see the shape of the hand in front of his face

51 posted on 03/19/2005 8:18:40 AM PST by Sparticus
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To: Enterprise
It would be the Attorney General who needs to take action

If Ashcroft were still attorney general, we might see some action.

52 posted on 03/19/2005 8:18:46 AM PST by freedomdefender
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To: beyond the sea
If I were the President, I'd be on Marine One and order to take off immediately and land right in front of the damn judge's home and yank his dirty filthy black robed body into the nearest jailhouse and throw the keys and his food tray away.

I live where people get arrested and jailed for starving their horses.

I guess it's really important in the State of Florida to save the sea turtles but God forbid they can't have one disabled handicapped innocent woman live.

Back to being the President, I thought his oath was to defend and protect,and uphold the Constitution and also to protect us from evil doers, and that includesa tyrannical out-of-control judge.

53 posted on 03/19/2005 8:19:00 AM PST by harpo11 (Congress We Need More Steroid in the War on Terror. Let Baseball worry about Baseball.)
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To: Racehorse

I don't understand why, after the supeona's were issued, that the Marshalls weren't send immediately to the hospice where Terri is, to prevent the tube being pulled.

Seems to me it would have been in the best interest of the Congress and Terri.

Why no response, other that rhetoric, to the Judges order and actions?


54 posted on 03/19/2005 8:19:32 AM PST by Bigh4u2
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To: beyond the sea
Greer is on the right side of WHAT LAW???????????????? His own election campaign was unlawful. His support of Michael Schiavo as Terri's guardian is unlawful. The guardian broke laws and Greer lets him. Again, WHAT LAW?????????
55 posted on 03/19/2005 8:19:55 AM PST by spiralsue (Medieval treatment of Terri Schiavo continues, right after this short break)
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To: the invisib1e hand
let the good judge spend a few days and nights in RAEFORD, catching up with old acquaintences. YES!!!

LOL.

56 posted on 03/19/2005 8:19:57 AM PST by beyond the sea (Colonial Script........... or nationalize The Federal Bank..)
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To: beyond the sea

If Frist actually had a pair, I'd be a bit more hopeful now.


57 posted on 03/19/2005 8:20:13 AM PST by Xenalyte (It's just a ride.)
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To: beyond the sea

The best part is that Judge Greer is legally blind and very likely cannot see her from further than six inches.


58 posted on 03/19/2005 8:20:40 AM PST by Xenalyte (It's just a ride.)
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To: dcuddeback
STOP TALKING AND DO SOMETHING.
Do you expect him to physically go fight with the judge? He's committing his prestige to the fact that action will be taken.

That's what he can do in his position; it's up IMHO to the executive to actually take physical action. If the executive (the US Attorney, and his bosses in DoJ and ultimately the president) do not take action, don't expect the Senate Majority Leader to do so. But if he doesn't take action, making Frist look foolish for talking tough, the president courts trouble with his legislative agenda.

If he does of course, The New York Times will criticize him. We shall see which concern moves Mr. Bush.


59 posted on 03/19/2005 8:20:44 AM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which liberalism coheres is that NOTHING actually matters but PR.)
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To: beyond the sea

I don't approve of starving her to death but I do
feel she would be better off in the hereafter.

I would feel that way if it was me or one of my family.


60 posted on 03/19/2005 8:20:49 AM PST by dwilli
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