Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Subpeonaed

Representative Conyers has had it.

He subpoenaed the Attorney General today for documents that were withheld from the Judiciary committee as the investigations into the U.S. Attorney scandal began to unfold.

"We have been patient in allowing the department to work through its concerns regarding the sensitive nature of some of these materials," Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the judiciary panel's chairman, wrote Gonzales in a letter that accompanied the subpoena. "Unfortunately, the department has not indicated any meaningful willingness to find a way to meet our legitimate needs."

Conyers added that "further delay in receiving these materials will not serve any constructive purpose."

The subpoena demands that Gonzales turn over the material by Monday at 2 p.m., according to a copy released by the committee. It does not require Justice to reproduce copies of documents, totaling nearly 4,000 pages, that were turned over in recent weeks, except in cases where the previous versions were censored.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond.

The subpoena was issued today, one week before the Attorney General is scheduled to appear before the committee to answer questions about the purge.

Not to be left out, the Senate is getting in the game too. Both of the Senators from Wisconsin are probing the wrongful prosecution and conviction of a state employee. Georgia Thompson was wrongly convicted on a corruption charge and served four months in prison, simply for doing her job in a Democratic administration. On appeal, the verdict was vacated and the defendant ordered immediately released from custody.

The case against Ms. Thompson was flogged mightily during the run-up to the mid-term electiosn. Now we know that it was a political witch-hunt and the conviction of Ms. Thompson was cited prominently by Republicans during an unsuccessful challenge of Wisconsin's Democratic governor last year.

It is obvious to all that her persecution was political. Those responsible need to pay, and pay dearly.

Justice can not be subverted and politicized. Not by either side. Not if we want to remain a society of laws.

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