Bush & Ashcroft Refuse to Reveal Details of FBI Boston Mob Cases

OKCSubmariner, Associated Press | September 6, 2001 | Patrick B. Briley

[OKCSubmariner]

President Bush is planning to claim executive privilege in a showdown with a GOP-led House panel in an effort to block lawmaker's access to documents about DOJ prosecutors and FBI decision making pertaining to a 13 year old FBI case with Boston mobsters and Clinton era corruption.

President Bush is expected to make an executive privilege claim to keep Dan Burton's House Government Reform Committee from seeing memos involving three Clinton-era criminal cases and the Boston mob case.

The committee served Attorney General John Ashcroft Thursday with a subpoena that demanded access to the documents and enlarged its demands to include more cases.

Committee Chairman,Republican Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana, is charging that Bush's position is a direct challenge to Congress' oversight authority in the Constitution.

"If this unprecedented policy is permitted to stand, Congress will not be able to exercise meaningful oversight of the executive branch," Burton reportedly said.

Attorney General Ashcroft has said it is the Bush administration's intent to set a new precedent and to reverse the time honored practice of sharing DOJ prosecutors' deliberative documents with congressional committees.

Burton's committee has tried since after Bush's election to obtain DOJ memos about decisions in cases involving Democratic fund raising, a former Clinton White House official and a former federal drug enforcement agent.

The House Reform Committee's subpoena served Thursday on AG Ashcroft requested those documents and was extended to also request 13 new types of documents pertaining the FBI's handling of mob informants in the Boston area over three decades.

[lawdog]

I really really wish I could believe you but "there is no education in the second kick of a mule!"

[secretagent]

From Congressional Research Service:

"The power of the Congress to conduct investigations is inherent in the legislative process. That power is broad. It encompasses inquiries concerning the administration of existing laws as well as proposed or possibly needed statues." The Court went on to emphasize that Congress' investigative power is at its peak when the subject is alleged waste, fraud, abuse, or maladministration within a government department. The investigative power, it stated, "comprehends probes into departments of the Federal Government to expose corruption, inefficiency, or waste."

[MJY1288]

Do any of you think that Dan Burton can do a better job of gathering the evidence on Clinton and his corruption, than Ashcroft. Dan Burton had Clinton dead to rights and screwed it up, the last thing we need is a congressional hearing with Dan Burton and Waxman screwing up the case. Unless of coarse one of you have an inside connection and can inform all of us on why Ashcroft and Bush want to keep sensitive evidence out of the hands of these 2 F***ing idiots, Waxman and Burton

[Enough is ENOUGH]

The Republic-crat Party, two parties in one. Affirmed containment, guaranteed. Had enough?

[ZoSo]

Yeah, I know it's early and all that jazz, but so far I can't think of one thing they've done to stop any cover-up. I have seen quite a few things pointing towards more cover-ups, however.

[Sparkboy]

"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss"

Meet the new Bush, same as the old Bush.

[ZoSo]

Who am I gonna vote for? Damn good question. I don't know yet. I haven't gave up all hope for Bush yet.

[secretagent]

Interesting point. The DOJ may have an effective investigation going on, which Burton's inquiry might harm.I haven't followed this case, so I don't have any facts to argue for or against this likelihood.

[MJY1288]

Good for you, A.G. Ashcroft is the poster Boy of integrity and if he don't want to give Burton the files or memo's it's for a good reason, not a cover-up I do not agree with Gerge W. Bush on all of his policy's, But he is no Bill Clinton and I seriously doubt they are trying to cover up anything, they just dont want Dan Burton and his incompetant investigaters screwing up this case or letting the media help distort the facts

[RLK]

It's my impression that Bush is somehow protecting Clinton or the Clinton period. Does anybody know what Bush is doing? Does he know what he is doing?

[ZoSo]

He knows what he's doing, but we sure don't. I wish he'd use the bully pulpit a bit more often. No more working vacations either.

[Sparkboy]

I wish he'd use the bully pulpit a bit more often

Nah, can't do it; wouldn't be prudent. Might lay down a principle and pin himself down.

[ZoSo]

Haha!

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Do any of you think that Dan Burton can do a better job of gathering the evidence on Clinton and his corruption, than Ashcroft. Dan Burton had Clinton dead to rights and screwed it up, the last thing we need is a congressional hearing with Dan Burton and Waxman screwing up the case.

"... a 13-year old case..."
Well it seems like it's already royally screwed up to me.

[OKCSubmariner]

13 year old FBI mob cases put the time back during elder Bush's Presidency. Is there something GW Bush does not want known about something that was going on during his Father's tenure and may have been too close to Kennebunkport?

But wait, I thought AShcroft promised the Senate and House Judiciary Committees that he was going to make sure the FBI was investigated and improved by Mueller and Glen Fine (IG). Mueller was at Justice during the mob cases and was involved in inaction/coverup of Bush Seniors involvement in BCCI and BNL.

In fact the mob cases came up in Senate hearings on the FBI several months ago-Judge Parker posted heavily on this. Is AShcroft saying it is okay for him to give a false appearance of investigating the FBI mob cases but that the Congress cannot exercise its perogative to investigate DOJ's handling (or lack of handling)of the investigations of the FBI?

[Sparkboy]

"... a 13-year old case..." Well it seems like it's already royally screwed up to me.

I'd like to see Republican conservatives press him relentlessly on such issues to make a case, if necessary, for replacing him in the next primaries.

[OKCSubmariner]

Please see reply #35.

[secretagent]

Good point about the 13 year mobster case. Seems long enough for the DOJ to fix this, if they had a will.

[Landru]

"I thought you guys wanted to have the DOJ investigations continue. Do you think they can finish this all up and make everything public in eight months? Come on. They say it will take another 6 months before Bush has control of the executive branch."

Forget it.
Seems people forget all too easy the MESS Ken Starr had to deal with when the *leaks* provided obstructionS & defense fodder before matters ever got to trial.

Could it be Bush is TRYING to keep the Liberal sycophant press AND the remaining Qlintonista QuislingS working in the bureaucracy in the dark concerning what is & isn't being worked on & against who & protected behind a wall of EP??
Naw.
Justa dumb hick from Texas, is all. {geeehez}

Seems people can't recognize Leadership when it just might be before their very eyes.

[secretagent]

In fact the mob cases came up in Senate hearings on the FBI several months ago-Judge Parker posted heavily on this.

Links appreciated, if you've bookmarked them.