Time For Special Prosecutor To Pursue Contempt Charges
In a strong move that has been almost completely ignored by the mainstream media, North Carolina Congressman Brad Miller has introduced a piece of legislation to deal with the gap in power that has allowed President George W. Bush to defy criminal charges of contempt brought against members of his administration. As Miller explains, H.R. 6508, also known as the Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act of 2008, “would allow the House to ask a court to appoint a special prosecutor for a criminal contempt of congress charge where the United States Attorney refuses to present the case to the grand jury.”
You may remember that Congress issued charges of contempt against Josh Bolton and Harriet Miers after they were ordered by President Bush to ignore congressional subpoenas compelling them to testify under oath before Congress. Those charges of contempt were ignored by the Bush Administration, however, as Attorney General Michael Mukasey ordered the U.S. Attorney to disregard the charges.
Given that blatant disregard of criminal charges, Congress then had the option of impeachment. As everyone knows, however, Nancy Pelosi took impeachment off the table even before she was elected Speaker of the House, and hobbled the ability of the Congress to provide a meaningful check on the President.
The Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act provides another route through which congressional checks against the Executive Branch can be reasserted. The act provides the ability to appoint a special prosecutor to pursue contempt charges when the Department of Justice refuses to do its duty.
Thanks to Brad Miller and to the six other members of Congress who have sponsored the legislation. If you don’t see your representative on this short list, make a phone call. Call (202) 224-3121 and tell your member of the House of Representatives that you want him or her to co-sponsor H.R. 6508.
John Conyers
Patrick Kennedy
Carolyn Maloney
Jerrold Nadler
David Price
Linda Sanchez
[...] This morning, I happened upon an article that we wrote one year and one month ago. Its title: Time For Special Prosecutor To Pursue Contempt Charges. [...]