Former GOP Congressman Demands Bush Investigations

A former Republican member of House of Representatives demanded on Thursday that Congress launch an investigation into possible crimes committed under Bush administration.

Former Rep. Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.) argued, in a brief interview with the Huffington Post, that his one-time GOP colleagues in Congress were skirting their constitutional obligations by refusing to probe the Bush administration.

"I don't think it is complicated at all. I mean, oversight is oversight. If there are allegations that people in public office committed crimes, than we have an absolute obligation to investigate and find out if it is true," Edwards said. "I think it is Congress' job. You could have an independent investigation I suppose. But Congress has to keep control of it. It is Congress' obligation under the Constitution to do the oversight."

In making his remarks, Edwards becomes one of only a handful of Republicans who served in elected office to endorse such an investigation. His comments come as the Attorney General's office is reportedly leaning toward appointing a special prosecutor to look into the use of torture during detainee interrogations. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have begun discussion about an investigation into the refusal of former Vice President Dick Cheney to conduct briefings on a covert intelligence operation run by the CIA.

To this point, only one Republican member of Congress has backed the idea of an independent body investigating the Bush administration -- Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.). Jones, a cosponsor of legislation to establish "a national commission on presidential war powers and civil liberties," has declined repeated attempts to discuss the matter with the Huffington Post.

Speaking at a panel on congressional oversight powers on Thursday, Edwards was far more forthright. He said he was not concerned that an investigation into the Bush presidency would be bogged down in partisanship, citing the work done on Watergate and other congressional inquiries. "It is a congressional responsibility," he said, "and you can easily set up bipartisan investigations."

Asked if he was surprised by the ongoing allegations of misconduct and secrecy from the Bush years, he replied: "It doesn't shock me because I've become quite aware that during the last eight years under the Bush administration, there were all kinds of things being done that stretched the limits of the Constitution: A lot of secrecy, a lot of claims of executive power that are extra-constitutional. So no I'm not surprised."

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Comments

[gotsmarter]

Thanks for being a gutsy and thinking Republican. You will be relentlessly attacked by Rove, Limbaugh, Cheney, and their sycophants, but you are doing the right thing.

[miketothad]

It will happen, in some fashion.
Holder knows that we have to reestablish credibility.

[FROG1]

what illegalities? if there were any, the dimocraps would have charged somebody - tell you something?

[JNagarya]

Congress is not in the business of "charging" anyone. That's the role of prosecutors and the courts.

Now tell us who is actually "dim" because you are pissed as result of demanding something that can't be done becaues you are clueless.

[breezi]

See Dennis Kucinich's 35 Articles of Impeachment, Frog. Then go back to your pond.

[tel8034]

An investigation into Watergate, the Iran-Contra Scandal, and now an investigation into the MANY illegalities of the Bush administration seems to be forming a pattern ...............

It seems that that whenever there is found to be White House Illegality, it's the republican president and his administration we continue to find in the mix.

[FROG1]

it seems that way to you, does it? into the bong again, are we?

[dragonlady620]

You don't read much, do you?

[Robson]

The best thing that could have happened to the USA for both Ds and Rs would have been an aggressive impeachment trial of Bush and Cheney. It would have set the record straight for all subsequent Presidents such as Obama. The discovery process likely would have involved individuals, organizations and countries that need to be purged from influencing the USA political process in the name of honest government for all US citizens and in defense of our Constitution.

The Democratic worms Pelosi and Hoyer need to be impeached also as they have no interest in purging our country of corruption and doing their primary job as chief checks and balance.

[JNagarya]

Pelosi and Hoyer impeached? Ever hear of ELECTIONS, fool? You know, as in, "Voting them out"?

[RationalityPlease]

Wow, a man of honor. Why isn't this story higher up on the Main-- way above the latest Palin nonsense?

[IndependentLass]

I agree. Where are HuffPo's priorities?

[JohnHKennedy]

GO BLESS THIS MAN-When Will Our DEMOCRATS FIND THEIR SPINE? & do the same? #fb

I have been warning that the Democratic Party is going to end up looking like fools IF They allow Republicans to Lead on
Protecting Our Constitution and Enforcing Our Rule Of Law.

This could very well be the issue which reboots the GOP.
Demonstrating a love of country and showing us they have the courage to defend our Constitution and Rule Of Law on which America is founded would go a long way to restoring the GOP.

Our Congressional Democrats need to start an investigation in public sessions soon. Attorney General Holder needs to appoint a Special Prosecutor to control the granting of immunity to witnesses and to do his own multiple investigations of all accusations of wrong doing in the Bush years. Failure to do so quickly will cost the Dems in 2010.

I am a 44 year Democratic Voter, but on this issue, I will vote for any sitting congressman or senator, regardless of party affiliation, that aggressively fights for prosecution of these crimes. This is too important to allow petty party politics to interfere.

SIGN THE PETITION
Demanding both a
Commission of Inquiry
and a Special Prosecutor
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG

You should contact AG Holder directly &
Demand a Special Prosecutor.
Department of Justice Switchboard - 202-514-2000
Office of the AG - 202-353-1555

Email: [e-mail]

U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001
.

[Amunaka]

I don't know about them repubs never had a problem investigating a sitting president on anything and everything ...but a former pres and allegations again't his administration...no no .. lets just move on ...makes ya wanna puke....


Just the Truth? Why the Republicans Have Changed Their Tune

March 21, 2007

Over the years, Republicans have held hearings on Bill Clinton’s Christmas card list and called for answers on Socks the Cat’s fan mail. Yet they continue to stonewall attempts to question key players in the scandal surrounding the apparently politicall­y-motivate­d firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. Despite emails showing that top White House advisers such as Harriet Miers and Karl Rove were involved in the decision, the White House has cited executive privilege and placed restrictions on their cooperation with Congress such as demanding closed-door hearings with no transcripts and even refused to place the advisers under oath.

FELINE FAN CLUB SCANDAL

Dan Burton’s Letter to The Clintons: As a member of the new Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, I would like to inquire what the standard practice is for the White House to respond to mail directed to 'Socks,' your cat… How many of these inquiries were responded to over the past two years? Who pays for the postage? If it comes out of the White House mail budget, why are the taxpayers being made to pay for your feline's fan club?

 http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/03/republicans_sou.php

[andyray]

Maybe he's been out of office for awhile but the fact that ANY Republican would come out for the truth and what is reqiured by law and decency is refreshing!

[Whitley2009]

Wow! He and Lugar on the same day.

[AddyGmom]

It's a lot easier to man-up when you don't have to get votes.

[andyray]

FINALLY! I'm from OK and after the embarrassment of Imhofe and Coburn it's good to hear one of our leaders with some ethics and some sense!

[CMarks]

When are the Republicans going to realize that Bush & Cheney weren't just keeping the Democrats in the dark and lying to them but they were doing the same thing to their own party. Somehow people like Liz Cheney seem to want Americans to forget that the Republicans were in charge during the first six years of the Bush administration and that they too were being deprived of the information that they were entitled to in order to keep the country safe. Bush/Cheney were running their own little country without the input of even their "trusted" fellow party members. I would be furious if I was an elected Republican and discovered that my own President had failed trust me enough to do the job I was elected to do.

[ObamAtomic]

Another one? Why after they leave office?

[VOTER]

He must have already moved from Oklahoma or has the moving truck packed & ready to pull out
of his driveway in the next few minutes.

[Scalawag]

I believe he has been out of politics for something like 30 to 40 years. When he was in Congress the GOP was much different party.

[Tammie]

They were led by constitution back then. Politicians should think about upholding what is Right. Investigate as they should.

[dillydawg]

Operative word 'Former'. begs the question, if he where a sitting pol. would he take the same stand?

[donttasemebro]

A sensible Oklahoma Republican. What a rare and special treat. Nice way to end the week.

[Phxflyer]

Better late than never I suppose. Buy where was he, and his backbone, when all of this was going on?

[ndifference]

He hasn't served in office since '93.

[Steward Clinton]

Then why is he saying anything now! If he LEARNED what he says he knows 'DURING' the Bush administration, and is credible enough to appear here and make this statement, then the question is legitimate - Where was his 'so-called' courageous voice when while it was going on?

I applaud the scraps of revelation he's throwing out on this issue. But I am not so dumb as to ignore the fact that he's late as Hades!

And, when I read the over rated cheers by JohnHKennedy (above) inferring that his 'standing up' posture on this issue is more significant than the current welfare of this country, or the 4,300 and counting dead (and dying) troops (results of bogus Iraq war and Afghanistan abandonment), I say its good he had an attack of conscience far after the fact, but no, it doesn't redeem him or his "former" illegally elected party, from squat!

They vote as a solid block against everything decent, and did so, throughout my lifetime. The lives lost indirectly, as a result of their treachery and greed, have destroyed this country on both a foreign, and domestic level, and demand accountability FAR more than this issue ever could!