Blueprint for a Legislative Probe Might Need Updating (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

Washington Post ^ | 04/10/05 | Matthew Mosk and John Wagner

[conservative in nyc]

Attorneys for the Maryland General Assembly were dusting off the law books last week as they tried to determine how lawmakers could deliver on their promise to launch a probe into personnel moves and alleged dirty tricks by aides to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

Turns out, it's a lot easier to call for an investigation in Maryland than to launch one.

"This whole area hasn't been touched since the late 1970s," said Robert Zarnoch, the assistant attorney general assigned to the legislature. "When we dusted everything off, we discovered the law had gotten a little rusty."

Under a 35-year-old provision, the lawmakers can pass a resolution forming an "investigating committee." The resolution, which need pass only one chamber, would define the committee's purpose, powers, duties, duration, subject matter, scope of authority and size.

Zarnoch said that might be the most suitable approach, especially because it has been used before.

--Snip--

But there are potential political and logistical problems with using that approach to investigate the activities of Ehrlich aides, including Joseph Steffen, who was fired by the Republican governor after admitting that he had spread rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D).

--Snip--

Busch said his office is leaning toward another approach, which would leave the investigation in the hands of the Legislative Policy Committee, which is made up of Senate and House leaders. They could convene after the session to appoint members of an investigative team and start to draw up a list of witnesses they plan to subpoena, Zarnoch said.

House Speaker Pro Tem Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), whom Busch tapped to co-chair the investigation, said no matter what the legal complications, the probe will go forward.

"We're committed," she said.

[conservative in nyc]

The wheels turn slowly, but it appears the Democrats are going forward with a legislative committee to investigate the NCPAC/rumorgate/firing "scandals". But will they have the guts to subpeona Jim Robinson's records? Stay tuned.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!

(Freepmail me if you want on or off the MD4Bush ping list).

[Anti-Bubba182]

Thanks for the ping. After reading this I don't see anything leading to a subpoena to FR for the logs that would help find the identitiy of MD4Bush who was the main provacatuer of the O'Malley rumors, along with a bunch of one post wonders that did their best to stir up a rumor storm at the time.

Erlich's investigation is weak to the point of non-existance and anything the Democrats put forward is certain to avoid the issue of MD4Bush's posts originating on an MD Democrat's computer.

In the meantime the story is colder than an ancient glacier.

[Mo1]

But will they have the guts to subpeona Jim Robinson's records? Stay tuned

I doubt it

[GOP_1900AD]

Well at some point in the process, if they don't subpoena, it's time to say "subpoena, schmeena," and share certain things with media channels who are ready and willing to run with them.