Posted on 09/24/2010 7:06:46 AM PDT by ken5050
Should be good..The witness is a hero..God bless him..
July 30, the Washington Times broke the news that top political appointee, Tom Perrelli (the #3 official at Justice) was involved in the dismissal of the case. Perrelli was also a top campaign bundler for Obama.
It proves they lied ...
COMMISSIONER KIRSANOW: Was there any political leadership involved in the decision not to pursue this particular case any further than it was?
ASST. ATTY. GEN. PEREZ: No. The decisions were made by Loretta King in consultation with Steve Rosenbaum, who is the Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General.
Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli, the No. 3 official in the Obama Justice Department, was consulted and ultimately approved a decision in May to reverse course and drop a civil complaint accusing three members of the New Black Panther Party of intimidating voters in Philadelphia during November’s election, according to interviews.
(snip)
The delay was ordered by then-acting Assistant Attorney General Loretta King after she discussed with Mr. Perrelli concerns about the case during one of their regular review meetings, according to the interviews.
Ms. King, a career senior executive service official, had been named by President Obama in January to temporarily fill the vacant political position of assistant attorney general for civil rights while a permanent choice could be made.
She and other career supervisors ultimately recommended dropping the case against two of the men and the party and seeking a restraining order against the one man who wielded a nightstick at the Philadelphia polling place. Mr. Perrelli approved that plan, officials said.
(snip)
http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Thomas_J._Perrelli
Perrelli has known Obama since their days at Harvard Law School, and he served directly under Obama as managing editor of the Harvard Law Review when Obama was president. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Perrelli was one of Obama’s biggest fundraisers, bundling more than $500,000.
How do we bring a perjury charge? If the DOJ is corrupt, can a Federal Judge take jurisdiction and who would bring the charges?
Operation Greylord
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Greylord was an investigation conducted jointly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division into corruption in the judiciary of Cook County, Illinois (the Chicago region).
The operation took place in the 1980s. Ninety-two people were indicted, including 17 judges, 48 lawyers, ten deputy sheriffs, eight policemen, eight court officials, and a member of the Illinois Legislature
bttt
Check out the recent tweets from US Civil Rights Commissioner Michael Yaki.
Yakiblog
* Name Michael Yaki
* Location San Francisco
* Web http://www.sfgate...
* Bio US Civil Rights Commissioner, Gov’t Affairs Consultant, Political Commentator, Life Observer and bad golfer
1. @AdamSerwer we can discuss how badly DoJ played this — hide head in the sand is NOT a strategy. But fact is, this is disgruntled Bushies 12 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to AdamSerwer
2. @AdamSerwer what are they saying (and I don’t count Fox). 24 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to AdamSerwer
3. also at #usccr hearing on #newblackpanther, evidence shows that lawsuit was rush job to stick it to Obama before he took office about 2 hours ago via web
4. At #usccr #newblackpanther hearing, “revelation” is that #chriscoates - supposed career guy — is acolyte of #schlozman and #vonspakovsky about 2 hours ago via web
5. Predictable. Go on #FoxNews and get slew of hate emails. The anonymous ones are the best — cowards!!!! about 2 hours ago via web
What a piece of crap Yaki is...
Talk about politicizing the DOJ!!!
******
@AdamSerwer what are they saying (and I don’t count Fox).
24 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to AdamSerwer
WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL YAKI,
U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS,
BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION
MARCH 17, 2005
http://www.usccr.gov/congress/050317/050317my.pdf
WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL YAKI,
U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS,
BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE CONSTITUTION
MARCH 17, 2005
http://www.usccr.gov/congress/050317/050317my.pdf
I am hoping the Commission will investigate the collateral damage to civil rights as a result of the Patriot Act, which is up for reauthorization this year. The Voting Rights Act comes up for reauthorization in 2007, and rather than have talking heads trade insults on its continued vitality, we need to take a fact-based look at disenfranchisement issues in all communities of our country. And there are many issues relating to educational and economic equality for minorities, women and the disabled, and other communities that I believe still need to be addressed.
There are issues that some Commissioners will agree with, and others in which we will disagree. Reasonable people can come to different conclusions from the same set of facts and circumstances, but it requires resources to access those facts and circumstances.
you can watch it at this link
Commissioner Yaki decries “zealous pursuit of a partisan and ideological agenda” in scheduling of Adams’ testimony
July 07, 2010
Michael Yaki, a Democratic member of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, has released a statement criticizing the “far-right majority” on the Commission for scheduling the testimony of right-wing activist J. Christian Adams at a time when commissioners critical of the manufactured controversy surrounding the New Black Panthers Party case — including Republican vice chairwoman Abigail Thernstrom — could not attend. Yaki called the investigation into the case “shallow, expensive, and partisan” and “reminiscent of an inquisition, a star chamber, and a witch hunt.”
Yesterday, Thernstrom encouraged readers to “forget about the New Black Panther Party case,” which she called “small potatoes, commenting that “too much overheated rhetoric filled with insinuations and unsubstantiated charges has been devoted to this case.” Yet right-wing media continue to promote the phony allegations.
Read Commissioner Yaki’s full statement:
Rather than engage in even a pretense of even-handedness, the Commission’s far-right majority chose to ignore the fact that none of the three Commissioners who objected to the date of the hearing — Commissioners Yaki, Arlan Melendez, and Abigail Thernstrom — could attend. The Commission Chair, the General Counsel, and the witness could not find a convenient time nor bother to solicit our availability (after a holiday weekend, no less) prior to scheduling this hearing. The fact that this hearing is being held without either Democratic Commissioners Yaki and Melendez, despite our prior practice of always seeking to accommodate the scheduling concerns of all Commissioners, underscores the fact that this is another page in the Whitewateresque drama convened by the ultra-conservative right-wing of the Commission. In blatant disregard of the bipartisan charge of this Commission, the majority carries on without semblance of fairness in their zealous pursuit of a partisan and ideological agenda.
There exists ample evidence of voter intimidation that was swept under the rug by prior Administrations. However, the Commissioners in attendance continue to show that voter intimidation is not their real concern. Instead, they misrepresent the present facts, engage in sweeping generalizations, and have seen fit to ignore anything that might veer from their predetermined outcome. By catering to the schedule and personal views of Mr. Adams, this Commission seeks to elevate one person’s account of a single incident into a generalized attack on the Administration’s voter protection policy. Regarding Mr. Adams’s schedule, it should be noted that he seems to have plenty of time to speak to every conservative media outlet in the country, but — according to our General Counsel — he had only had one day available between July 6th and 16th to appear before the Commission.
The plain truth is that two individuals engaged in a few hours of activity which, on its face, could possibly be construed as voter intimidation. One of them carried a nightstick. However, no witnesses saw them accost any voters. No witnesses saw them verbally or physically threaten any voters. On the other hand, if we are to conclude that “outfits” and demeanor can alone be intimidating, why did the Justice Department fail to take action against individuals in Arizona who not only displayed guns and home-made badges, but also accosted Latino voters? Why didn’t the Justice Department investigate individuals and campaign committees in New Mexico and Pennsylvania who targeted minority and elderly voters with “official” statements and threats about their voting status that were legally and factually incorrect? These are the real questions on voter intimidation that the Commissioners here today have chosen to ignore time and again.
This investigation, such as it is, has been incredibly shallow, expensive, and partisan. There exist serious issues today involving discrimination and racism in this country that the Commission’s far-right majority has ignored in its quixotic pursuit of a conspiracy and a policy that do not exist. These proceedings are reminiscent of an inquisition, a star chamber, and a witch hunt. They are not worthy of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
This guy is a Pelosi operative?!
U.S. Commission On Civil Rights Meeting Turns Into Brawl Over DOJ Black Panthers Case
August 13th, 2010
“The simplest thing in the world to do for the Department of Justice, in terms of putting this to bed, is to turn to Mr. Coates and instruct him to go testify,” Reynolds said. “He will either refute the statements made by Mr. Adams on this point, or he will confirm them.”
Gaziano agreed, saying commissioners “have sworn testimony” from Adams, “and the Department has still neither admitted, denied or commented on that statement.”
But Yaki said suggestions that Adams’ “sworn testimony” amounts to evidence are “a farce” and “a joke,” calling Adams’ testimony “not credible to say the least.”
“There was sworn testimony by one individual, who’s no longer an employee, about a statement by another individual who said he heard it from a third individual,” Yaki said.
In a letter sent to the commission on Wednesday, Perez, who testified before the commission in May, said the Justice Department “is firmly committed to the evenhanded application of the law, without regard to the race of the victims or perpetrators of unlawful behavior.”
“Any suggestion to the contrary is simply untrue,” Perez wrote, pointing to “our ongoing work in Mississippi,” where the Justice Department recently filed a motion to stop Democratic officials from discriminating against white voters.
Commissioner Peter Kirsanow, a Republican, said Perez’s letter “gave us the back of the hand,” and Gaziano said Perez “continues to refuse to allow Chris Coates to testify when it’s clear that he would have relevant and material evidence to present.”
But Yaki insisted that the letter offers “proof” that “all this blowing smoke is just that.”
“It shows actual actions by the Department of Justice that completely bely the claims made by [Adams],” he said. “The letter states very clearly that … [when an] African-American was doing all these pretty awful things to suppress the white vote, the Department of Justice got involved.”
In addition, Abigail Thernstrom, the Republican Vice-Chair of the commission who has been an outspoken critic of the New Black Panther case investigation, said there “can be perfectly legitimate internal reasons” for the Justice Department’s refusal to comply with the commission’s subpoena.
“If Republicans were running the Justice Department, I think that for reasons of internal management to the department they would undoubtedly handle this in the same way that Perez is,” Thernstrom said. “It seems to me we’re talking about how Washington works. … We are not uniquely victimized here.”
Gaziano called that a “strange notion” disputed by history, and he offered a motion urging Congress to amend the law creating the commission or write new laws to clarify what can be done if the Justice Department has a “conflict of interest.” The motion passed by a vote of 5 to 3.
The commission is currently working on a report about its investigation into the New Black Panthers case.
Yes, and he fits her type of politics to a tee!
Commissioner Michael Yaki, who was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
He served 7 years as senior advisor to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.
FOX just reported that the finding of the committee will be turned over to Congress, and they may or may not follow through, depending on the election.....Another reason for all of us to get out and work like he77!
(no link)
Brown Turns Political Tables Again - Pelosi aide named to Hallinan’s seat
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE - Wednesday, January 17, 1996
Author: John King, Catherine Bowman, Chronicle Staff Writers
Mayor Willie Brown put his emphatic stamp on San Francisco government yesterday by filling a vacant slot on the Board of Supervisors with Michael Yaki , an aide to Representative Nancy Pelosi .
The appointment confounded many observers. Brown had been expected to name a leader of one of the interest groups that supported him for mayor. Instead, the mayor chose the trusted assistant of one of his closest allies, albeit someone he has worked with closely during his campaign.
He will learn soon enough what voters think of his choice. Yaki fills the seat left empty by District Attorney Terence Hallinan; it is up for grabs in this fall’s elections, so if Yaki wants to stay in electoral politics he will have to prove his case soon.
Yaki ‘s selection was part of a 22-name blizzard of appointments unleashed by Brown in his first press conference as mayor. The choices included new names — 31-year-old Emilio Cruz will be the mayor’s new chief of staff — and such familiar faces as Library Commissioner Sherry Agnos, wife of former Mayor Art Agnos.
(snip)
By contrast, Yaki ‘s abrupt elevation caught people off-guard. And at least one of his future comrades questioned the wisdom of Brown’s move.
``It would have been nice to see the appointment going to people who have run before and never give up,’’ said Supervisor Angela Alioto. ``He ( Yaki ) didn’t start out as a community advocate with no money in the bank. And I am not trying to knock Yaki , because he is not the issue.’’
Yaki , at a press conference yesterday afternoon, said his work with Pelosi leaves him no stranger to the city’s tangled political web.
``Without wanting to sound immodest, I think if you were to call a lot of these groups, they would already have a good impression of me,’’ Yaki said.
For his part, Brown happily defended Yaki . Brown leaned on Yaki increasingly for policy advice as the mayoral campaign marched on.
``He’s just the best qualified,’’ Brown said. ``I looked around for persons that had my vision of the city, grass-roots contacts, were somewhat exposed to public policy-making and had experience with the federal government.’’
(no link)
TALK ON CHINA POLICY
San Jose Mercury News (CA) - Saturday, May 15, 1993
Author: Mercury News Staff Report
President Clinton’s China policy and that nation’s most-favored-nation trade status will be discussed by an aide to Rep. Nancy Pelosi , D-San Francisco,... (snip)
Michael Yaki , Pelosi ‘s San Francisco spokesman and an advocate of a human rights requirement in China policy, will appear at a Support Democracy in China membership meeting. An assessment of Hong Kong’s situation will be provided by another speaker. (snip)
Ex-S.F. supervisor named to civil rights panel
San Francisco Chronicle (CA) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Author: Edward Epstein, Chronicle Washington Bureau
Former San Francisco Supervisor Michael Yaki was named Tuesday to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where he will be one of the few liberal and Democratic voices on a panel that under President Bush has come under solid conservative control.
Yaki was named to the eight-member commission by his former boss, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. Yaki worked as Pelosi’s district director before then-Mayor Willie Brown appointed him a San Francisco supervisor in February 1996. Yaki won election to a full four-year term in November 1996 but was defeated for re-election when the city switched to district voting for the 2000 elections.
(snip)
Yaki , who took Edley’s seat for a six-year term, said he didn’t want to jump into the commission’s divisions quite yet. “I look forward to getting to know my colleagues and understanding their view on civil rights, but my view has been shaped in part by my family history,” he said Tuesday.
Yaki ‘s father, a second-generation Japanese American, was interned during World War II. His mother was the daughter of a Chinese diplomat who was stranded in this country with his family when World War II broke out.
Yaki said it took an act of Congress to allow the family to stay in the country because the Chinese exclusion laws were in force then.
“Our country still has a responsibility to respect civil rights and civil liberties, including in these trying times,” said Yaki , who practices law in San Francisco with the firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro.
(snip)
DA Office Braces for Bloodbath — Mass Firings Feared
THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE - Wednesday, January 17, 1996
Author: Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross
EXCERPT
LOYALTY TEST: A few weeks ago, when Mayor-elect Willie Brown was mulling over his first appointment to the Board of Supervisors, Carole Migden offered up this advice: ``You have a free pass on this one, so appoint someone that will shine and someone who will be loyal.’’
He did, appointing Representative Nancy Pelosi ‘s aide, Michael Yaki , to replace Terence Hallinan.
Yaki represents the latest generation of the Burton-Brown machine, that liberal-labor combine of politicos that includes Brown, Pelosi , Assemblyman John Burton, plus Supervisors Kevin Shelley and Sue Bierman.
Even U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer started out as an aide in the Burton combine.
If there’s one thing the Burton clan knows about, it’s loyalty. By appointing Yaki , Brown proves his loyalty to Pelosi and gives Yaki a chance to prove his loyalty to Brown.
Sickening. Once again we have a partisan activist dem operative running around accusing others of being partisan. go figure. He should be stripped of his commission seat for his stupid tweets alone. He’s a hack!
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