Leahy: Investigate Bush Now

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy insisted on Monday in firm and passionate terms that a comprehensive investigation be launched into the conduct of the Bush administration, saying anything less would prevent the country from moving forward.

Speaking at a forum at Georgetown University, the Vermont Democrat suggested the creation of a truth and reconciliation commission to uncover the "misdeeds" of the past eight years.

"Many Americans feel we need to get to the bottom of what went wrong," said Leahy. "I agree. We need to be able to read the page before we turn the page."

The Senator also stated that Attorney General Eric Holder never gave assurances to Republican Senators that he would not prosecute Bush administration officials who may have been involved in illegalities such as authorizing torture or warrantless wiretapping.

"There are some who resist any effort to investigate the misdeeds of the recent past," he said. "Indeed, during the nomination hearing of Eric Holder, some of my fellow Senators on the other side of the aisle tried to extract a devil's bargain from him in exchange for the votes -- a commitment that he would not make... That is a pledge no prosecutor should give and Eric Holder did not give it. But because he did not it accounts for some of the votes against him."

At one point, Leahy slammed the lectern with his right fist, underscoring the emotion he brought to the debate. His remarks referred to claims that Holder had provided Republicans on the Judiciary Committee a pledge not to prosecute Bush officials -- claims that the Obama administration denied.

Leahy framed his commission idea -- which he had not discussed publicly prior to Monday -- as a middle ground of sorts between those who adamantly oppose investigations and those who say "we must prosecute Bush administration officials to lay down a marker."

The Senate, he proposed, would "authorize a group of people universally recognized as fair-minded and without any axe to grind" to investigate the Bush administration's actions.

"Rather than vengeance, we need a fair-minded pursuit of what actually happened," he said.

This is "not to humiliate people or punish people, but to get the truth out, so we don't make the same mistakes again," Leahy said later during the question and answer session. "We fought Revolution in this country so we could protest the actions of government. We should protect that."

After the speech, Leahy elaborated a bit on what he had just announced: The commission could, if needed, be granted subpoena power and it would investigate everything from torture to the faulty information that brought the country into war in Iraq. He had not, he acknowledged, discussed the idea with the Obama administration or Holder. After 35 years in Washington, he said, "I like being able to say what I want to say."

Comments

[tmo7734]

10:28 PM on 02/12/2009

I've been calling for this for several years. Sadly, I'm afraid the American people would be unwilling to face the truth that Bush and Cheney deserve jail terms. (It's easier for them to believe that their leaders are noble people.) That said, I do appreciate Senator Leahy's sentiment.

[CaveatMagnusFrater]

08:12 AM on 02/11/2009

The Constitution of the United States of America is what our nation is all about. It doesn't matter who would rather trade liberty for perceived safety because they are scared. There are enough of us willing to defend it with our lives. This is not the United States of Christians, or the Unted States of Whites or the United States of Males. Liberty and justice for all. If justice means prosecuting an ex-president because he violated our constitution, so be it. But remember. Innocent until proven guilty.

[MrBadger]

07:19 PM on 02/10/2009

I applaud this effort and hope that President Obama does nothing to get in its way.

But... to really be effective it seems to me it must have three things.

1. There must be immunity for those who come forward and tell ALL the relevant truth.

2. This commission must have subpoena power and sufficient power to make it stick.

3. Anyone who does NOT come clean needs to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

[dphilip]

06:46 PM on 02/10/2009

Do you dims really think Obama is going to let you overshadow his ascension with this distraction?
He doesn't give a damn about what you fools want......Oh, did you hear Harry Reid slime Heath Shuler by criticizing his NFL record because Shuler opposed the bill? You guys are so absolutely juvenille it's laughable....

[Phxflyer]

07:13 PM on 02/10/2009

Unlike republicans, we believe in the constitution, the rule of law, and that it applies to everyone.

[hmargret]

06:36 PM on 02/10/2009

Right on, Leahy!!!!!

stay with it, man. we want a full investigation and trial. I will NOT bow to cynicism on GWB and the GOP's intention to avoid prosecution.
Santa Fe VOTER

[rlugbill]

05:21 PM on 02/10/2009

"No one is above the law"- President Obama in response to a question about charges against Bush Administration officials and crimes. But the rich and powerful feel they are above the law.

There should be no sweeping this under the rug. In any normal case, prosecutors don't really consider any possible defenses in their decision to bring charges. They bring the charge, then they might consider defenses in a plea deal. The defendant is offered a deal based upon the offense and his record and he can either accept it or go to trial.

People are looking at some sort of national security defense in this case in deciding whether or not charges should be brought. That is getting the cart before the horse. Bring the charges and then have Bush and Cheney & Co. either accept the deal to refer the case to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a pre-trial diversion program or else face a criminal trial.

That is a much better plea deal than any petty thief who stole something from the grocery store to feed his family would get.

And charges should definitely be brought first as in every other criminal case- then defenses and plea deals considered. Not the other way around.

A Truth and Reconciation Commission might be a good plea deal for them. But first, bring the charges to coerce them into participating in good faith.

[LynnW49]

05:07 PM on 02/10/2009

Truth without prosecution of illegal acts is meaningless.

[Nova16]

04:43 PM on 02/10/2009

Yes, the entire Bush administration needs investigation. This would send the republicans in congress scurrying like coakroaches when the light strikes them and will take their minds of roadblocking the stimulus. This is just what is needed at this time.

[ConstitutionCrusader]

03:46 PM on 02/10/2009

WOO HOO!!!!!

[DanC45]

03:34 PM on 02/10/2009

Hey Pat-- And after the turth comes out, someone ought to hang Busha dn Cheney!

[DanC45]

03:31 PM on 02/10/2009

Hey Pat--

Go getem! If Bush and other administration officials aren't prosecuted, then we have the situation where people are above the law. Also, has Bush lowered athe bar?

[ruberube]

02:42 PM on 02/10/2009

Patrick Leahy is the man...
I want justice to be brought out of the darkness of the past eight years.
There are millions of Americans, myself included who have lost faith in the system.

The nation needs closure as to move forward!
If impeachment can be brought forward upon an adulterous act, then at least an investigation should be brought forward for the economic and ethical destruction of our nation!

[SwissChocolate1]

02:37 PM on 02/10/2009

What a bunch of malarky...President Bush did NOTHING wrong. This is just the continuation of the liberal urban legend that the libs have spun for the past 8 years.

You guys really need to get a life~

[Johnagain]

03:00 PM on 02/10/2009

What joke you are. You need to come out from under your rock.

[jarjarbush]

03:03 PM on 02/10/2009

"We fought Revolution in this country so we could protest the actions of government."
And so that others can live in denial and believe in a parallel universe, such as SwissChocolate1

[garykay]

04:12 PM on 02/10/2009

Excellant retort jarjarbush. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of both patriots and tyrants..it is its natural manure". (Thomas Jefferson). SwissChocolat1's take on matters explains how Hitler was able to do his thing. He didn't do anything wrong either. Just a bunch of Jewish urban legend....! A mind can be a very dangerous thing in the wrong head.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

02:21 PM on 02/10/2009

As simply a matter of PROPORTIONALITY for the trumped up, kangaroo impeachment of Clinton, the clownish BUSH BULLIES, including Phil Gramm (promoter of the revocation of Glass-Stigall....) and Grover Norquist (money launderer for Abramov....), should be investigated......and even harassed.....in the quest for the FACTUAL record of EIGHT years of cronyism, incompetence, and dishonesty!!!

Publish their addresses......, and let the public exact a measure of "rough justice"!

[SwissChocolate1]

02:39 PM on 02/10/2009

Bitter much? hahaha

[Johnagain]

03:02 PM on 02/10/2009

If you're not bitter with regards to the Bush administration after the last 8 years, then you have the intellect of a 10 year old.

[Firbolg]

01:35 PM on 02/10/2009

Patrick Leahy is absolutely right for many reasons. People who feel good about themselves would be willing to make the sacrifices and take the unselfish action needed to bring us back to being a stable country that cares for all its citizens, setting an example for the rest of the world. Obama seemed to be opening that door during the campaign but has slammed it in our faces now that he has what he wanted. His administration's position on the issues Leahy is talking about are tragic; look at the case in San Francisco against Boeing subsidiary, Jeppesen - who acted as the CIA's rendition "travel office" - or that of Binyam Mohamed in the UK. Deep down we know we are in denial about how the actions of the Bush administration painted us as a nation. For Obama to join us in our delusions rather than leading us away, when he promised so much and needs to achieve so much more than he promised, is so discouraging.