House renews probe of U.S. attorney firings

Vote to continue lawsuit means inside story of Bogden’s dismissal may come to light

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Daniel Bogden

Will lawmakers reclaim power? (12-21-2008)
U.S. Attorney for state hopes Obama keeps him on job (11-11-2008)
I’d given up on Gonzales leaving, Bogden says(8-28-2007)
Wrong kind of help (4-20-2007)
Bogden not well known at Justice (3-21-2007)

Washington — The untold story of the firing of Nevada’s former U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden may yet be unraveled. The House on Tuesday voted to continue a lawsuit seeking testimony from the Bush administration about the politicizing of the Justice Department.

As part of a routine package of rules governing the opening of the new Congress, the House agreed to continue the lawsuit it brought last year after President George W. Bush’s former officials ignored subpoenas to produce documents and appear before the House Judiciary Committee.

The move by the Democratic-controlled House is an assertion of congressional authority after several years of what scholars see as executive branch overreach by the Bush administration.

Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley said Congress should do no less.

“A very fine U.S. attorney from the state of a Nevada was unceremoniously removed for no reason – I would like to know why, I would like it top be made public and I would like those responsible punished,” Berkley said. “By passing this rule we have assured this will be done.”

The House voted along party lines for the package of rules, which included other unrelated provisions Republicans opposed. Berkley and Democratic Rep. Dina Titus voted in favor. Republican Rep. Dean Heller was opposed.

No clear explanation was ever given for Bogden’s firing, which was part of an unusual dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys in 2006.

The firings led to congressional inquiries that revealed politics within the Justice Department and ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2007.

Bogden has since become a lawyer in private practice in Nevada.

As part of the investigations, the Judiciary Committee subpoenaed testimony from former White House counsel Harriet Miers, who had been among those possibly involved in the decisions. It also sought documents from Joshua Bolten, the former White House chief of staff.

When the White House cited executive privilege in refusing to comply with the subpoenas, the House sued for contempt. Separately, the committee also sought information from Bush’s former top adviser Karl Rove.

Because the subpoenas expired Tuesday, with the start of the new Congress, the House passed rules to ensure they could be swiftly reissued. Without the subpoenas the underlying lawsuit could be challenged.

The committee expects to reissue the subpoenas in coming days.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

By johnhkennedy

Jan. 7, 2009

1:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

GIVEN THAT THE US HOUSE HAS THE AUTHORITY AND POWER TO COMPEL THE SUBPOENA RESISTORS TO APPEAR, EVEN TO ARREST THEM... THIS LAWSUIT SEEMS DESIGNED TO AVOID SERIOUS ACTION AND TO AVOID TAKING A STAND.

The House Democrats have enabled Bush and Cheney's un-Constitutional crimes for years and this is just one more attempt to avoid holding Bush and Cheney accountable and at the same time pretend to the voters that the Democrats in Congress care about it.

If the Illinois Democrats had immediately Impeached Blagojevich he wouldn't have been able to appoint Burris. As it is the appointment is legal because the Illinois Constitution says it is.

The US HOUSE DEMOCRATS
Who Have Blown Off Impeaching Bush & Cheney for 7 years

SHOULD TAKE A LESSON FROM ILLINOIS.

If the Dems had Impeached, We would have far fewer dead US Soldiers in Iraq and our economy would be in much better shape. BUT THERE IS STILL TIME.

REP. KUCINICH
Should File An Impeachment Resolution the first week.

OVER 4,200 US Soldiers WOULD STILL BE ALIVE IF BUSH & CHENEY HAD NOT CONNED CONGRESS WITH WMD LIES and had not TORTURED Prisoners. Over 30,000 were Maimed For the WMD Lies.

Our AMERICAN DREAM INCLUDES the Freedom From Having To Fear A Dangerous, Over Reaching President & Vice President.

There is plenty of desire among voters for impeachment.

Rep. CONYERS of the House Judiciary Committee RECEIVED A PETITION WITH OVER ONE MILLION SIGNATURES ASKING FOR Impeachment HEARINGS

And.. HE IGNORED IT.

We haven't heard much from Rep. KUCINICH lately on impeachment.

KUCINICH may say that Pelosi made him stop trying to impeach them,

But "SHE MADE ME DO IT" is no excuse,

KUCINICH owes it to the 4200 Soldiers Who Died For Bush's Lies

CONYERS NEEDS TO START IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS
IMMEDIATELY And VOTE BY JAN 19th

.