Walter Jones, GOP Congressman, Signs On To Investigating Bush

There is, in fact, an element of bipartisan support for creating of a truth and reconciliation committee to investigate illegalities from the Bush years. And it comes from within Congress.

Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican, has signed on as a co-sponsor of legislation introduced by House Judiciary Chair John Conyers to establish "a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties."

A self-described conservative who brought "Freedom Fries" to Congress, Jones developed into one of the most vocal Republican critics of the Bush administration. He took particular umbrage at the handling of the Iraq War and the decision to prohibit photographs of returning coffins of American soldiers. Late in the past administration's time in office he was reported to have been reading Vincent Bugliosi's book, "The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder."

So while it is surprising to see an elected Republican official endorse the establishment of an investigatory committee to probe the Bush years, it is slightly less surprising that that official is Jones.

Nevertheless, Democrats on the Hill who are committed to the idea are ecstatic to have the congressman on board. Jones' office did not return repeated requests for comment.

As for what the Obama administration thinks of the matter, that remains shrouded in a bit of mystery. I asked the president about Sen. Patrick Leahy's proposal for a truth and reconciliation committee at his Monday night press conference. He responded that he had would not comment on a proposal he had not seen. Asked on Friday whether the White House was in a better position to offer an opinion and if not, when, a spokesman replied: "I don't have a timetable to share... I will keep you updated if there is movement."

In the meantime, polling firms are beginning to take the issue seriously enough to gauge public opinion. The results are somewhat mixed, but they certainly demonstrate that the notion of investigating the Bush administration for possible illegal activities is not a revenge fantasy of the fringe "left."

A USA Today/Gallup poll showed that 38 percent of Americans support launching criminal investigations into the use of torture and warrantless wiretapping, while 41 percent support criminal investigations of Justice Department politicization. Thirty percent support setting up an "independent panel" to investigate what happened at DOJ, while roughly 25 percent support an independent investigation into warrantless wiretapping and the authorization of torture.

Comments

[Jezreel]

Good! How can we avoid repeating the mistakes & crimes of the past, if we don't know what they were?

[Jezreel]

Good! I just hope this idea picks up more and more steam until it blows the lid off of what happened.

[batmanindy]

You betcha!

[RTIII]

I DO NOT WANT a "truth and reconsiliation committee" - but "a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties" sounds pretty good...
.

[jacqmac]

Sen. Leahy's committee is called a "FACT-FINDING and TRUTH TELLING" committee. This does NOT rule out PROSECUTION. However, and I'm not even going to quibble, there are LOTS and LOTS of people who see all of the stuff that we've been yelling about for the last eight years as 'leftwing conspiracy theory wing nut nonsense'. If we really WANT to serve the country, then we NEED these committees and commissions. We need them televised in PRIME TIME. We need to HEAR the information for ourselves, coming from the mouths of those who created the mess. In other words, what we are asking for the detainees at Guantanemo IS NECESSARY for those who PUT THEM THERE. I have every confidence that Rep. Conyers and Sen. Leahy will, when they proceed, GET TO THE BOTTOM of the travesty that has been made of our Constitution. Look for DEFINITE oneeighties in positions from the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and State Departments. In the meantime, don't start trying to hang the new President for crimes he hasn't committed---PAY ATTENTION! READ!!

[forebode]

I signed the petition regarding the BushTruth Commission, but I feel it needs to be run like a trial and taking discovery on the subject. I want a trial, prosecution, PERSECUTION (of Bush, Cheney, and cronies), and yes, I DO want veangence. Take away their Secret Service protection, take away their executive pensions, take away their Haliburton profits, put the sobs in jail and throw away the key!!!!

[Jezreel]

Link to the petition:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/39781

[slowtono]

Jones is a chump. He believes people are dumb enough to pin this all on Bush! A REAL investigation is going to find CONGRESS guilty including Leahy. Jones and company won't give America anything but more distress, hate mongering, division, depression, and anxiety. I guess at this point I need to start asking reporters of the media if the ultimate goal in present America is civil unrest or possible war! When exactly is the N E W administration, the N E W congress going to start talking about positive positioning. All America is reading and seeing now is back biting and degradation. The split is nearing upheaval! Everyone hates everyone! Hate thats what your promoting!

[middlemanri]

middlemanri

I applaud Jones for acting like a real congressman. Others in the GOP should be asking themselves why they are not supporting their constitutional duties of over-sight of the Executive branch. The main reason the GOP is gone from any leadership in our government is that they allowed Bush to become above the law by playing politics instead of doing their duty. Neither party is there to obstruct justice, or to put their party above this countries interests.

[roshni]

I applaud him too. Bush/Cheney need to be held accountable or we cannot move the country forward and restore our credibility.

[MissingAmerica]

Bush's actions have been proven to be illegal in a number of instances, most of which contributed to our loss of global respect and the devastation of the global economy. Once the little Truth Squad finishes, it is time for indictment, prosecution and accoutability.

[LITU]

Dear Royal Canadian Mounted Police, arrest the b_st_rd, Bush, the minute he sets foot on your soil.

Thank you,

The American People

[observer151]

Here's the relevant Canadian law on the matter - Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act. This Act incorporates the 1998 Treaty of Rome regarding war crimes, as well as the Agreement for the prosecution and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis, signed at London on August 8, 1945; and the Proclamation by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, dated January 19, 1946.

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/ShowTdm/cs/C-45.9//20090214/en?command=search&caller=SI&fragment=war%20crimes&search_type=all&day=14&month=2&year=2009&search_domain=cs&showall=L&statuteyear=all&lengthannual=50&length=50

Read the section entitled 'Offenses Outside Canada'. Nothing in that section exempts Bush from avoiding arrest under Section 6 of this Act.

In fact, it appear that nothing in the Criminal Code of Canada precludes an ordinary citizen of Canada from making a citizen's arrest of Bush for crimes under this Act. Section 494 of the Criminal Code provides citizens with all the power they require.

http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-46//20090214/en?command=search&caller=SI&fragment=494&search_type=all&day=14&month=2&year=2009&search_domain=cs&showall=L&statuteyear=all&lengthannual=50&length=50

Mandatory life imprisonment is called for where intentional death occurs as a result of the accused's actions:

2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (1.1)

(a) shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life, if an intentional killing forms the basis of the offence; and

(b) is liable to imprisonment for life, in any other case.

[LITU]

Well, I was just showing my disdain, but yours was excellent information. Thank you.

See the smile on my face?

[LITU]

Don't investigate just yet. First arrest Bush as a material witness, THEN investigate (for years). Problem solved.

[Antifascist-08]

tick, tick, tick

[somsoc]

I will take a wait and see posture with Jones after Judd. It is nice to think that a member of Goldwater's party still cares about justice, but hard to believe.

[nana4g]

I am with you. I do not trust anyone with an (R) behind them. What they do best is sabotage. After all, we are dealing with admitted insurgents.

[blood1]

What this article does not highlight is that greater than 60% of the population want something done about thes potentially illegal acts.

What is not clear is how the questions were asked and if the respondents knew the difference between a "commission to study" and investigation.

Until the polling information is clear, the only take away from the poll is that the majority of Americans Want Action on these possible/p­otentially illegal actions taken on "behalf of We the People" during the past (Bush) administration.

[RationalityPlease]

From the Gallup website regarding this poll:

"Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,027 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3 percentage points."

Suppose they only called Republicans?

[garymc8]

INVESTIGATE. PROSECUTE. PUNISH. REMOVE ALL BUSH LIFETIME POLITICAL APPOINTEES STARTING WITH ROBERTS AND ALITO. WAR CRIMINALS DO NOT GET TO APPOINT SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.

[LITU]

Certainly true that impeachment needs to be the tool du jour.