Bush Cites Executive Privilege - To Protect Clinton

The New American ^ | 10-8-01 | Insider Report

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Among those who thought that Executive Branch obstructionism would end with the departure of the Clinton administration was Congressman Dan Burton (R-Ind.). But Rep. Burton, who heads the House Government Reform Committee, has been stymied by Attorney General Ashcroft’s refusal to permit the Committee to review documents concerning decisions by three Clinton-era federal prosecutors not to prosecute officials involved in various scandals.

"While I have a great deal of respect for the attorney general," declared Burton, "he has announced a new policy that broadens executive privilege. If this unprecedented policy is permitted to stand, Congress will not be able to exercise meaningful oversight of the executive branch."

Burton prepared to subpoena the documents from the Justice Department, prompting President Bush himself to threaten a claim of executive privilege. "The claim, if made," reported the Associated Press on September 5th, "would be Bush’s first known use of executive privilege, a doctrine recognized by the courts to ensure presidents can get candid advice in private without fear of it becoming public."

The doctrine of executive privilege was created by Harry Truman, who from 1946 to 1948 issued an order forbidding government officials to provide information to congressional investigating committees without presidential permission. This was done to obstruct official inquiries regarding suspected Communists and similar security risks within the Executive Branch. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower first used the expression "executive privilege" when he issued a similar order intended to block a similar investigation by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The Nixon and Clinton administrations both cited "executive privilege" in their attempts to frustrate official investigations of corruption and misconduct.

Burton’s Committee has been investigating the abundant evidence that Janet Reno’s Justice Department had quashed efforts to prosecute politically protected figures.

Following the advice of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez, George W. Bush threatened (in Gonzalez’ words) "to invoke the privilege and create a clear policy that [federal] prosecutors’ discussions should be off-limits from congressional scrutiny." The Bush policy is a useful reminder that contempt for Congress’ constitutional mandate to exercise oversight of the Executive Branch is a bipartisan presidential tradition.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

".....Bush is an attractive candidate who enjoys energetic support from the GOP faithful as well as independents who are looking for a uniter, not a divider--a man of honor and integrity, not a man spawned out of the corrupt Clinton Administration......" - a Free Republic member 10-27-2000 Source

[Heisenburger]

It should be fairly obvious why Ashcroft is doing this. He doesn't want later Democractic Congressmen to subpeona documentation for prosecutorial decisions from later Republican administrations.

[JohnGalt]

Burton is just covering his butt after he quit on his Consitutional roll of Executive Oversight in the Clinton Administration. He was quoted as saying that the campaign finance scandals would have to wait until the next administration.

Burton quit on us (recall revelations about his love child?) and now the New American of all outposts is carrying his press releases?

Oh brother, what short memories...

Enough, Representative Watermelon.

[Satadru]

Excellent point, but you are totally wrong. Do you really expect Democrats to spare an opportunity to go after Republicans?

[Howlin]

You're being quoted here, so I thought I'd let you know.

[Digger]

What else would be expected from a "Two-party Cartel". You can not get a president elected that isn't corrupted & blackmailable. Without that we could have a Reagan who is vilified by the left & neutered by the moderate Pubbies. Or a Buchanan or even a Nader - just see how they were torn up by this "Two-party Cartel". So what are you pubbies gonna do - just sit back & take it, allow GW to be a co-conspirator?