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 ...
Exactly right. Greer played right into our hands with his arrogance toward the subpoena. Now it's time for him to find out what's it's like to be on the wrong side of a contempt charge. Then, of course, we'll have the all-too-predictable babbling from the lefites about how dare we lock up this sacred judge.
Screw 'em and, when you're finished, screw 'em again.
And he should go see her.
BUT, I have heard that it is being reported that this judge is legally blind, and has to have court documents read to him in chambers. If true, this is significant and probably explains why this judge has not, and will not, go 'see' Terri.
Yeats got it right:
The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
Absolutely. Some people here are rightfully skeptical of an organization like the U.N. investigating itself, yet strangely oblivious to what George Greer has done in making it virtually certain that he - and he alone - controls all the access and information.
People can bitch about Frist and every other Republican all they want, but ultimately, there is a web of euthanasia-industry figures in one Florida county (a titular husband with two feeding-tube notches already in his belt, a judge with a messianic complex, a lawyer with a penchant for euthanasia, a sheriff-turned-legislator, an employee of said sheriff whose daughter is the husband's new squeeze, a hospice that deserves investigation, and so on) that is responsible for this whole fiasco, and giving them any cover by hollering about states' rights isn't overly helpful.
Shaky area of the law here. If this were a subpoena issued in a federal court case and the witness needed protective custody, then yes the Marshals serve to protect the witness.
Since this is a legislative subpoena, other than in this situation, it's hard to see where a witness would need protective custody. My guess though is that the US Attorney for the WD could have gone to a federal judge and attempted to obtain a protective order for Terri Schiavo. Not sure if he would have gotten one though.
Send the US Marshals to jail Greer if he does not comply
Didn't Janet Reno send in the BATf to get Elian ????
Won't we all? (Assuming we're not going to a high-temperature place>
Democrats want her die, Republicans want her to live. But if this were a juvenile who planned, and carried out a brutal rape and murder, the positions would be reversed.
Threats will not work with this judge. His pride will not give in to such tactics. Action will be required. They will find that out soon enough.
If I were a Congressman, I'd be really pissed off at Greer.
In the abstract I'd tend to agree. However, who knows how someone might act/feel having never been in her condition? There are way too many unanswered, or only partially answered, questions/issues in this matter. What harm would be done by delaying the removal of her feeding tube until after the proffered hearings?
Or for drawing a picture of a -gasp- gun!!!! It's way past time to throw all these black robed tyrants in jail.
LOL! I guess you've never heard of the supremacy clause. You really should at least read the USC before commenting on it.
Read my post no. 84. Reno had boldness that our own leaders - from the presidennt to the attorney general to Frist to Hastert - haven't shown yet. Unfortunately, Reno was bold in doing bad. I wish our guys would show some boldness in doing good. As it is, Judge Greer - - this tinpot two-bit backwater county clerk - - is making them look like girlie men.
To the Democrats, the Constitution is a living breathing document. Astonishingly, they do not defend Terri Schiavo's right to be a living breathing person!
I think congress should pass a law that would make the judge be the one to pull the tube and also force him to stay at her bedside until she dies.
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