New York Times' Editors On DOJ Scandal: 'Americans Deserve A Full Accounting'

By and large, the press has, lamentably, adopted the "let's look forward" approach that the Obama administration seems to want to take on wartime abuses of power. But the New York Times is cutting against that grain in their Sunday editorial on malfeasance at the Bush Justice Department, calling for stepped up efforts in securing the testimony of Karl Rove, and insisting that "Americans deserve a full accounting."

There is no doubt that laws were broken, but the extent of the illegality is not known. It is still not clear who ordered nine United States attorneys fired to advance a partisan agenda. And a whistle-blower has charged that Don Siegelman, the former Alabama governor who was convicted on dubious corruption charges, was railroaded, and that Mr. Rove was behind the prosecution.

Mr. Rove argues that he is protected by executive privilege. Such privilege is narrow. It applies mainly to communications closely tied to the president and must yield when prosecutors have a strong need for information about a possible crime. His claim is particularly weak because many of the communications he would be asked about do not involve the president. There is also evidence that crimes were committed at the highest ranks of government. He is no longer a presidential aide.

The editors send this message to President Barack Obama: "On the campaign trail, Barack Obama was skeptical of sweeping claims of executive privilege. We hope that he will show the same skepticism now that he is in the White House."

Would that the press were not so limited in their zeal.

Comments

[naschkatze]

09:53 AM on 02/03/2009

Now that Obama won the election, the NYT is willing to look into this. If he hadn't, Siegelman could rot in jail for the rest of his life as far as they are concerned.

[Right-turn]

05:50 AM on 02/03/2009

Sure, that sounds good. How about then the paper can come clean about the affair between

Caroline Kennedy and Arthur Pinch Sulzberger, New York Times publisher.

How did this affect the coverage on Kennedy while she was seeking the NY U.S. Senate seat?

[2008CaliforniaFan]

05:16 AM on 02/03/2009

Is this someone deciding to ' flex their muscles' now that they know they will not be prosecuted for speaking out? Nobody would say anything.... when BushCo could send out His army of Lawyers and Attorneys after them. They want a Story now... but not back in 04 before His re-election.

[schatsie]

03:58 AM on 02/03/2009

Harpers has an interesting article about how politicized the DOJ was..

My issue is with Monica Goodling, and I hope she has been disbarred for BLATANTLY hiring into Civil Service appointments Republicans 100% of the time...this is ILLEGAL in this country and if it is not addressed then we will have NO department of JUSTICE.....

[texanna]

11:14 PM on 02/02/2009

Well, better late than never, I guess. I mean, where were these guys throughout 2008 as Don Siegleman was struggling to get his story out? Sucking up to the bushies, that's where. Now that there lips are unlocked from the departed behinds of the bushies they are beginning to see what's been going on; but please, don't act like the rest of us don't already know!

[masslass]

08:21 PM on 02/02/2009

Could we view this as a stimulus package for out of work lawyers or those just out of law school. Let's put them to work bringing the scumbags of the last eight years to justice. Good work, benifits, paid vacation, pension,,,,,and there would be plenty to do. Just think what it would do to restore the confidence of the world - we cleaned up our own mess! And put people to work!

[LeeCalif]

07:16 PM on 02/02/2009

Let's hope the NYT is serious and doesn't drop the ball. They are so schitzy.

[Suzanne525]

06:01 PM on 02/02/2009

On his first full day in off, Pres. Obama signed an exec. order reversing Bush's exec. order that would keep all presidential communications secret for 12 years after the Pres. leaves office.

Now, the Bush archives are open for release.

So maybe some of this was being planned for a while. I hope so.

Somebody better get Rove, Cheney, Gonzales, Miers & Bush before a jury.

[mmgbizgirl]

04:17 PM on 02/02/2009

Yes! Let's get the SH*T out on the table and finally start dealing with it.

[negogato]

04:13 PM on 02/02/2009

No one is above the law. An investigation that reveals the truth is called for. Otherwise we are not a nation of laws. Truth even if it is truth without incarceration is enough. Not enough for me, but enough.
For all those who followed and admired Bush operatives like Rove and would strive to be like him, seeing Rove DISGRACED in a COURT OF LAW will be good for the country. It is necessary, if we are to have dignity as a nation and dignity before the world
Because we are a nation of laws and no one is above the law.
If not - we are a country ruled by a political class that operates like a political class common in a monarchy or any totalitarian government you care to name.
This is the UNITED STATE OF AMERICA. Not North Korea.
This is our sovereign nation with a system of laws of our own making under which all are equal.
We are not a hapless colony not some family fiefdom and not some tin horn dictatorship.

[schatsie]

04:00 AM on 02/03/2009

All of those Republicans lied their ASSES off when it came to Torture and threw the Army GRUNTS to the wolves...Those grunts all went to Jail and the Bushies get off!!! THIS IS NOT JUSTICE!!! this is not RULE OF LAW!! this is not AMERICAN!!!

[grf67]

04:07 PM on 02/02/2009

Great idea. Start by calling Gonzales to testify under oath. Then charge him with lying under that same oath.

[naschkatze]

09:47 AM on 02/03/2009

All three Bush AGs.

[Americanium]

03:50 PM on 02/02/2009

The horse has already bolted ...now you want to lock the door? Where was the NYT when this was happening??

NYT wrote stories about Rev. Wright and Ayers and not once did you ever wrote about investigating the abuses at the DOJ. Now they want to pressure Obama under the guise of holding Republicans accountable.

NYT is a sham...

[Suzanne525]

04:36 PM on 02/02/2009

Exactly my thoughts.

I thought investigative journalists investigated. Maybe none of them work for the NYT.

[prunebush]

06:24 PM on 02/02/2009

If the NYT wants to resurrect investigative journalism, I'm all for that. Step 1 should be hiring Greg Palast and paying him the big money he deserves.

[Alann]

07:48 PM on 02/02/2009

If you and "Americanium" ever bothered to actually READ the NYT, you would not have made asses of yourselves with your ignorant (and wrong) posts.

[vgirl1]

03:42 PM on 02/02/2009

Rove must be made to testify.

[SaulGood]

04:19 PM on 02/02/2009

was that scheduled for today?

[Suzanne525]

04:34 PM on 02/02/2009

It got postponed for a couple of weeks so the White House could respond to a request for Obama to decide about 'exec. privledge'.

[grandmao]

03:35 PM on 02/02/2009

Way to go NYT!! Bush, et al deserve to pay for tall their crimes, not just the US Justice firings. Don't stop pushing for investigations. Are you listening other MEDIA out there?????? Keep the heat on this new administration. If we let the Bushies get away with what they've done, we are not a country that can be believed in either at home or in other countries.

[kareemachan]

03:21 PM on 02/02/2009

Now I lay me down at night
I pray the Lord to set things right.
Please hear me, Lord, as I pray
And send Karl Rove to Gitmo Bay.

[08timefortruth]

03:47 PM on 02/02/2009

Love it:)

[sandpiper1]

04:54 PM on 02/02/2009

Applause, applause. Bravo!!!!

[SaulGood]

04:19 PM on 02/02/2009

{{claps}}