Judge To Cheney: Don't Destroy Your Records

WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Saturday ordered Dick Cheney to preserve a wide range of the records from his time as vice president.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly is a setback for the Bush administration in its effort to promote a narrow definition of materials that must be safeguarded under by the Presidential Records Act.

The Bush administration's legal position "heightens the court's concern" that some records may not be preserved, said the judge.

A private group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, is suing Cheney and the Executive Office of the President in an effort to ensure that no presidential records are destroyed or handled in a way that makes them unavailable to the public.

In a 22-page opinion, the judge revealed that in recent days, lawyers for the Bush administration balked at a proposed agreement between the two sides on how to proceed with the case.

Cheney and the other defendants in the case "were only willing to agree to a preservation order that tracked their narrowed interpretation" of the Presidential Records Act, wrote Kollar-Kotelly.

The administration, said the judge, wanted any court order on what records are at issue in the suit to cover only the office of the vice president, not Cheney or the other defendants in the lawsuit. The other defendants include the National Archives and the archivist of the United States.

In response to the ruling, Cheney spokesman James R. Hennigan said that "we will not have any comment on pending litigation."

The lawsuit stems from Cheney's position that his office is not part of the executive branch of government.

This summer, Cheney chief of staff David Addington told Congress the vice president belongs to neither the executive nor legislative branch of government, but rather is attached by the Constitution to Congress. The vice president presides over the Senate.

The lawsuit alleges that the Bush administration's actions over the past 7 1/2 years raise questions over whether the White House will turn over records created by Cheney and his staff to the National Archives in January.

In 2003, Cheney asserted that the office of the vice president is not an entity within the executive branch.

Two historians and three groups of historians and archivists joined CREW in filing the suit two weeks ago.

Comments

[HatingTheGame]

Translation -- Hey Dick, your records might be subpoenaed, so better get cracking and destroy them quick.

Yeah, as if Dick will listen to anything that the other branches of government says. He'll keep pushing on until the walls close in around him, and then he'll take the heroic (cowardly) way out -- his heart will burst, and off he'll go in the sunset. No doubt getting a state funeral and lots of tears.

[Voltage]

That sound you hear is the paper shredder running 24/7 inside the Penguin's closet-sized safe.

[cpricecpa]

Records? I would never destroy my Frank Sinatra records.

[hkochii]

Cheney hasn't obeyed any other court decisions prior to this one, why should this one be any different?

Awhile back Halliburton moved its world head quarters to Dubai, Dubai has no extradition agreements with the United States.

Anyone want to bet Cheney destroys everything and boards a private plane to Dubai right after the new prez and vice prez are sworn in?

[soithoni]

"What records?"

"Those records!"

"Oh... heh heh... those records. Yeah.... heh heh... funny thing about those records, see.... I was lightin' up a big stogie one night... heh heh..."

[ThermoChemist]

A "fire excuse" may not work as he's already had one fire incident.

Fire Breaks Out In Cheney's Office
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/19/politics/main3631060.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3631060

(CBS/AP) Thick black smoke billowed from a fire Wednesday in Vice President Dick Cheney's suite of offices in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.

Cheney's office was damaged by smoke and water from fire hoses, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. The vice president was not in the building at the time; he was in the West Wing of the White House with President Bush.

Investigators were working to determine the cause of the blaze, Etter said. The smoke appeared to come from an electrical closet on the building's second floor. [people were toying with the idea that perhaps Cheney was using his paper shredder too much and it caused the fire. LOL]

Then again, a personal paper shredder is not really necessary as Cheney can use a shredding service to take care of such things.

Federal spending on paper shredding increased over 600 percent since GWB took office.
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/12/bush-secret-shredding-soars.php

All part of the unprecedented "Secrecy in the Bush Administration".
http://oversight.house.gov/features/secrecy_report/index.asp

[myshadow]

he doesn't care...

[robeson]

Asking Cheney not to commit a criminal act is slapstick.

[sandyfeets]

Cheney to Judge: Go F yourself.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Judge to Cheney: "F*ck me? No! F*ck YOU and the lawyers you rode in on!! Defy me and you'll be conducting your secret energy meetings from a jail cell."

[Chaz1]

Hilarious; yes, that's exactly what Cheney's reply would be. I have said from day one that he was the most dangerous man in America, probably more dangerous to the preservation of our liberties than any Al-Q terrorist to date.

[bugdog]

Try the shrub & Cheney for murder and other war crimes.

[geminifemini]

Why is no one paying attention to the wealth Cheney has amassed from this war and question why Halliburton moved their corporate headquarters to Dubai a couple of years ago.
Release documents? Hah. Hardly of any concern to Snidley Whiplash. Though I do admit that the thought of Lynn Cheney is a beekeeper suit in the future has some appeal.

[MNinWI]

Evil does attract evil-yes indeed that would be a great pic-I'd pay a nickel to see it.

[hapiguy]

What Records?

[exactor]

To protect them, you would think, they would be asking for him, to turn in his shotgun.

[decolonizeme]

And while you're at it, stop lighting the Constitution on fire.

[ReasonableBill]

Cheney would never do that, he will let someone else do it, and quickly - very quickly.

[Clairvaux]

"Judge To Cheney: Don't Destroy Your Records"

Opps, too late.

[HPotamus]

Absolutely

[ZDuck]

He is going to use the excuse that he used the paper as target practice. The only time he hit the target.