DOJ: We Can't Release Cheney Records Because Of Late Night Comedy

Sarabeth at 1115.org has a piece up today explaining that the Obama administration's efforts to keep the goings-on of the Bush-Cheney White House away from scrutinizing eyes now extends to denying a federal judge notes from the FBI's interview with ex-Vice President Dick Cheney during the CIA leak investigation. But this pull from the original AP story, which captures the reasoning of Justice Department for attempting to deny the request, is simply mind-blowing:

Justice Department lawyers told the judge that future presidents and vice presidents may not cooperate with criminal investigations if they know what they say could become available to their political opponents and late-night comics who would ridicule them.

"If we become a fact-finder for political enemies, they aren't going to cooperate," Justice Department attorney Jeffrey Smith said during a 90-minute hearing. "I don't want a future vice president to say, 'I'm not going to cooperate with you because I don't want to be fodder for 'The Daily Show.'"

I hardly think that citing the need to shield public figures from satire as a justification for denying this request has got the public's interests properly balanced. But I also have a question for the DOJ: Uhm...have you met our last two vice presidents? Joe "OMGZ EVACUATE THE TRAINZ IT'S THE PIG FLU!" Biden and Dick "I thirst for a consomme of infant tears" Cheney? By comparison, I think future vice-presidents have a better than even shot at avoiding comic ridicule without the intervention of federal courts.

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Comments

[kweenipie]

Again, republicans missing the point. DON'T DO ILLEGAL THINGS and your opponents won't be able to find facts that incriminate you, DON'T DO AND SAY STUPID/INSIPID things and Jon Stewart won't be able to make fun of you. You do not have a choice in coorperating with criminal investigations any more or less than anyother citizen and if you go around stonewalling while in office it just makes you look that much more guilty and you will be voted out anyway.

[beherenow54]

The Justice Department has no business refusing to release Cheney's interviews, and particularly using late night shows like Colbert and Stewart as a reason. People can and will say whatever idiotic things passes through their brain. And we have a right to see it, presented by the Nightly News or the Daily Show.

[prscnt1]

Palin 3, she comes after Prejean

[FrozenNorthObserver]

I think I'd rather have Prejean come first.lol

[prscnt1]

I must agree with her blonde comment.

She gives me willies, it appears right-wing republicans have a special school for blondes and probably run by P a l i n.

[ibsteve2u]

So let me get this right:

The DOJ is arguing that information must be withheld to protect the reputations of those who act without honor? History is no longer allowed to judge an American politician - they are instead entitled to censor history?

lollll...the grand illusion is complete.

[2garen]

You are so very right. Cheny is the worst type of coward by accusing and then hiding from the fall out of his own actions. Pathetic at best.

[Iscarius]

Are they afraid we will learn Cheney's true Sith identity?

[igorz]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. In far too many ways.

[justafarmer]

as if! this is the least of their worries to be late night cannon fodder.

[beyondliberal]

Thank gawd for the Freedom of Information Act (until it's repealed, of course).
Cheney's crimes will come out eventually-- let's hope it's before he's dead so we can prosecute, convict, sentence, and execute him for being the treasonous war criminal that he is!

[2008CaliforniaFan]

Apparently the FOIA does not work that well in Alaska. At least not when you have to play by Sarah Palin Rules. AKMuckraker just posted an Update. Read the story.

Anybody have some ' loose change ' in their pockets...?... to a worthy cause.

http://www.themudflats.net/2009/06/20/the-64000-question-is-on-sale-want-some/

[Whitley2009]

Be afraid, Cheney, be very afraid.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

never fear O will protect him.

[Clearing-Brush]

Eventually? Sorry to have to clue you in so late in the game, his crimes have been out. There is more than plenty to convict. Obama's administration and the DOJ just lack the will and moral character.

[WaitingforJanuary]

That's a ridiculous reason.

[ObamAtomic]

Well Cheney I guess you free to go, DOJ do not want you to be the joke of late comedy.
DOJ is not worried about the law but Cheney out of the late comedy circuit.

[FrozenNorthObserver]

if you don't mind me asking what country are you from?

[ObamAtomic]

Is okay

[ie]

fear the truth--the new american way!

[baltbail]

in an effort to protect cheney from critics and late night comics the DOJ has made Obama vulnerable to those same critics and comics. this is a joke. protect an ex-vice president at the expense of the current president. but obviously obama has something to gain from this or the doj wouldn't be doing it, though more likely obama is not calling the shots on this one. he's a one-termer.

[AndyWright68]

Of course Obama is calling the shots. He influenced the courts to withhold the torture photos. He's the President. He controls the Congress, the Senate, the courts, the banks, the mortgage industry, the car companies and what ever other businesses he decides to take over.

[marbou]

And besides, the day Obama leaves the presidency, he will have skeletons in his closet that he will not want revealed. If he does not disclose the repug skeletons, they will not reveal his. It's called scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

[masher]

Its very telling that the DOJ is not concerned with the "real news" talking about this.

No, our government is more worried about The Daily Show. 'nough said.

[ivegotblisteronmefingers]

wait, wait, wait....I'm guessing that it's on accounta cause anglesh isa 2nd lounguage fer meh
so wood sum 1 pleez esplain that first para graph 2 mi