NYT editorial, "Defying the Imperial Presidency": Hold Miers and Bolten in contempt

Defying the Imperial Presidency
Published: July 26, 2007

The House Judiciary Committee did its duty yesterday, voting to cite Harriet Miers, the former White House counsel, and Joshua Bolten, the White House chief of staff, for contempt. The Bush administration has been acting lawlessly in refusing to hand over information that Congress needs to carry out its responsibility to oversee the executive branch and investigate its actions when needed. If the White House continues its obstruction, Congress should use all of the contempt powers at its disposal.

The committee really had no choice but to hold Ms. Miers in contempt. When she was subpoenaed to testify about the administration’s possibly illegal purge of nine United States attorneys, she simply refused to show up, citing executive privilege. Invoking privilege in response to particular questions might have been warranted — the courts could have decided that later. But simply flouting a Congressional subpoena is not an option.

Mr. Bolten has refused to provide Congress with documents it requested in the attorney purge investigation, also citing privilege, and he has been equally unforthcoming about why he thinks it applies. Together, Ms. Miers’s and Mr. Bolten’s response to Congress has simply been: “Go away” — a position that finds no support in the Constitution....

The administration’s contemptuous attitude toward the constitutional role of Congress was on display again this week when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee....

Congress must not capitulate in the White House’s attempt to rob it of its constitutional powers. Now that the committee has acted, the whole House must vote to hold Ms. Miers and Mr. Bolten in contempt. The administration has indicated that it is unlikely to allow the United States attorney for the District of Columbia to bring Congress’s contempt charges before a grand jury. That would be a regrettable stance. But if the administration sticks to it, Congress can and should proceed against Ms. Miers and Mr. Bolten on its own, using its inherent contempt powers....

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/26/opinion/26thu1.html?hp

Bout damn time.

"Congress must not capitulate in the White House’s attempt to rob it of its constitutional powers."

:kick:

at least they don't mention anything about it in the story.

We started into this mess when Ford pardoned Nixon. I believe the New York Times also hailed that as a smart move.

The problem is, when tyrants get a clear message that the only thing that will happen to them for attemped robbery is that Harriet Myiers may do a short stretch in jail, possibly, or possibly not, depending on how long this drags out, and what the outcome actually is, then the incentive far outweighs the penalty.

Where is the headline about kidnapping, due process, loss of constitutional rights of the people?

Solid.

Wow ! just WOW !

NYT has a looong way to go before atoning for Judith Miller, though.

not just defied it.

I guess it shows how far we've sunk.