White House Obstructing Plame Investigation

The Bush Administration is actively blocking Congress' investigation into the outing of once-covert CIA agent Valerie Plame, according to House Oversight Committee chairman Henry Waxman.

In a letter sent today to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Waxman notes that "White House objections are preventing Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald from disclosing key information to investigating officials." Among the documents being withheld are interviews taken from White House officers during Fitzgerald's investigation into the leak of Plame's identity.

"Over the summer, Mr. Fitzgerald agreed to provide relevant documents to the Committee, including records of interviews with senior White House officials. Unfortunately, the White House has been blocking Mr. Fitzgerald from providing key documents to the Committee," Waxman writes to newly appointed Mukasey. "I ask that you personally look into this matter and authorize the production of the documents to the Committee without any further delay."

Waxman's letter provides one of the first tests for Mukasey, who stressed during his confirmation hearings that he would operate independently from White House directive. The letter also provides greater insight into the extent of collaboration between Fitzgerald and the oversight committee.

Read the full letter here. Emptywheel has more here.

Comments

[forebode]

This obstruction proves Bush and Cheney's guilt. The treason came from that high up. Somehow, we need to make sure they realize that what goes around, comes around, applies to them, too.

[forebode]

The minute Bill Clinton was elected president, they set out to impede him from accomplishing anything and destroy his presidency.

as revenge for beating H.W. Bush in an election. How dare Clinton beat the son of a Nazi supporter? How dare the American people prefer Bill Clinton. It was revenge, and because Clinton helped make life bearable for us havenots, he was being beleagered from all directions by the far right conspiracy.

[atomic]

WOW. Government moves so slowly ... no wonder the Neocons wrote that the only way to start a war would be if we were attacked. Hmmm. They got exactly what they wanted and now we have a military occupation of a country that did nothing to us ... and because government moves so slowly these traitors are still in our WHite House.

[Nochnoi]

So when Waxman doesn't get the information he wants what is he going to do?

Write another letter?

I bet bush is shaking in his booties... not!

[JaneC]

Your days of claiming executive privilege will soon end Monkey boy. hehe

[ming099]

....if they obstructed justice AT ALL....ANYWHERE....they should all be prosecuted..................even the cooks, maids and doormen...

[kfdan]

Managing the propaganda out of the White House is easy! All they have to do is invoke Presidential privilege: Plame struck down, Fitzgerald struck down, Congress struck down, American democracy struck down ... the list goes on!

[leftLibertarian]

The criminals Bush and Cheney smile knowing that the Democratic Party doesn't have the BALLS to impeach them.

[mabinog]

"Mukasey, who stressed during his confirmation hearings that he would operate independently from White House directive."

Fat fucking chance of that.

[Destin]

Of course GW "The Criminal In Chief" Bush is gonna obstruct justice. He's got his delusional legacy to look after. Meanwhile, who is looking after our country and it's citizens? Do any Dems wanna step up to the plate and fill that massive void the size of Jupiter?

[kellygrrrl]

I expect any moment for Rovarian Cancer to start spreading.
Of course, it was the Democrats who leaked her identity.

[Paisano]

The Democrats have no guts....They are in contempt...Go get them!!!

[avergejoe]

mucky isnt wasting any time!

[imsosure]

These people are beyond being drunk with power, they have become polluted to the point of being a hazardous waste zone. Surely there is a fragment within their society and their culture that is not sleeping well as a result of their involvement and how this will be addressed. Accountability for these crimes cannot be left to the citizens, the citizens have already voted in and helped persuade the appointment of responsible persons into positions of influencing the enforcement of the rules. There has to be accountability regardless of political influence, those responsible must not be able to scapegoat and otherwise brush off their behavior on to others. These irresponsible and reckless pirates must be punished and punished for each and every count. There must be a return to civility and this wanton abandonment of keeping to the rules must stop. This nonsense is beyond belief, what more is it going to take to have these people make to account for these crimes, are we so apathetic that it will just be ignored, how pathetic?

[Mercedes]

Why the heck isn't Congress Pressuring and Pushing "the Decider" to hand over the documents and e-mail? We ALL know that Bush and Co. is hiding SO MUCH Corruption; it may take YEARS to find out all the damage he's done to us.

But, Bush thinks if time runs out that Congress won't be able to do anything to him. So he's delaying everything. I'm quite sure if he feels threatened if the DOJ or anyone else starts Pressuring and Pushing him, he'll declare a State of Emergency and pronounce himself "the Royal Decider--King George".

Then, we'll see what powers Congress and the Supremes really have.