Immunity for a Key Gonzales Aide?

TIME ^ | Thursday, Apr. 12, 2007 | Adam Zagorin

[bacterialalbatross]

Sources tell TIME that discussions are under way on "Capitol Hill about whether to offer just such a deal to the key former aide to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The discussions — still largely informal — follow Goodling's assertion of her Fifth Amendment privilege to refuse to testify about her role in the controversial firings. Were Goodling to receive some form of immunity, she could be legally compelled to testify or risk facing charges of contempt of Congress."

[kinoxi]

Sources tell TIME that discussions are under way

I'm sure the voices tell them many things indeed...

[gov_bean_ counter]

Since history does tend to repeat itself for those who don’t learn from it (wow does that ever describe Dems) will they repeat the Ollie North mistake?

[Michael.SF.]

or risk facing charges of contempt of Congress.

Since I have nothing but contempt for the Democrats in Congress, I wonder if they will charge me?

;)

[muawiyah]

Goodling is now a private citizen. What basis would Congress use to bring her in to testify?

[Michael.SF.]

Refresh our memories, if you will, on the specifics to which you refer.

[gov_bean_ counter]

i was wondering about that myself.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Congress granted Ollie immunity without knowing the substance of his testimony. He ran rings around Congress at one point saying “Must have missed one” when a Congressman referenced a document that had not been shredded.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Oh, Iran-Contra.

[kinoxi]

In regards to post #3. What law was broken here?

[gov_bean_ counter]

An “alleged” attempt to bypass Congress and fund the Contras in Nicaragua financed by selling arms to Iran.

[kinoxi]

I was referring to the here and now example posted above. I’m not sure that any laws were broken. That would invalidate the comparison.

[NonLinear]

We may be cell or block mates...

Of course, I don’t have contempt for all of them...only the ones who act as idiots. But I contradict myself.

[Obie Wan]

This little girl ain’t going to be able to stand against the Politbureau.As a matter of fact there’s nobody from the Republican side of the aisle who’s strong enough to fight the commissars. It’s sad,it’s pitiful,and it’s also a fact of life !!!

[Michael.SF.]

Oh, Iran-Contra.

LOL. Thanks. That much I did know, I was just not clear on the specifics of your reference!

[KrisKrinkle]

From the article:  Lawyers say that if Goodling were granted immunity in exchange for her testimony, it would most likely be so-called "use immunity" — meaning that none of her statements could be used to prosecute her for past crimes."

Leaving her open to prosecution for perjury during the testimony in question if somebody found her testimony to be in conflict with someone else's or with other "facts" surfaced by the investigation.   I'm not saying she would perjure herself, but she could remember things incorrectly or just differently than other people.  When she first decided to take the fifth, her lawyer mentioned the Scooter Libby case and the same thing could happen to her.

What about Linda Tripp?  Didn't she testify under use immunity and then have a prosecutor from another jurisdiction (who wasn't obligated by the grant of immunity) charge her with something?  Can Congress offer immunity on behalf of everybody?

 

From the constitution:   "...nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself..."

It looks to me like she would be a witness against herself if her testimony is usable against her  in future cases which may be brought against her--anywhere. 

 

From the article:  "That would mean she would no longer have any basis to assert her Fifth Amendment right to refuse to testify."

Disagree.  See above.

[Verginius Rufus]

“Some form of immunity”? What does that mean—they can strip her of her fifth amendment rights and give her something of uncertain value in return? If she doesn’t give the answers they want, they’ll claim she is lying. Would the “immunity” deal protect her against bogus perjury charges (a la Scooter Libby)?

[rockinqsranch]

Welcome to Free Republic.

[Redbob]

What I’m looking forward to is this:
they grant Goodling immunity, and then she pulls a “Hillary” on them:

“I can’t recall; I really don’t recall!”

LOL!

[Redbob]

"Would the “immunity” deal protect her against bogus perjury charges (a la Scooter Libby)?"

Not a chance!