Bradley Schlozman Won't Face Criminal Charges For Lying Under Oath

WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder has decided not to bring any criminal charges against a former Bush administration official who lawmakers said lied to them in sworn testimony.

An inspector general's report found that Bradley Schlozman, the former head of the civil rights division, misled lawmakers in sworn testimony about whether he politicized hiring decisions.

At his February confirmation hearing, Holder pledged he would review that decision to prosecute Schlozman when he took over the department and promised to strengthen and rebuild the civil rights division.

Holder's decision was revealed in a letter sent to lawmakers on Friday.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was one of Schlozman's questioners at the original hearing and had urged Holder take a second look at the case, called the attorney general's decision "very disappointing."

Under questioning from Schumer, Schlozman had denied making hiring decisions at the Justice Department based on the applicants' political affiliations.

"Perjury is often a close call, but in this case it wasn't. Mr. Schlozman was way over the line," Schumer said.

In the letter to lawmakers, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich said Holder oversaw an "extensive" review of the Schlozman matter. Holder found the alleged conduct of Schlozman disturbing, but ultimately chose to defer to the prosecutors' original decision not to bring charges, Weich wrote.

Schlozman resigned from the Justice Department in 2007 and went to work as an attorney in private practice in Wichita, Kan.

His lawyer, Bill Jordan, said his client "is extremely pleased" by the attorney general's decision, and called the original allegations in the report "grossly inaccurate and biased."

The investigation of Schlozman was among a number of probes that found senior Justice Department officials in the Bush administration had violated civil service laws under the tenure of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The Justice Department controversies – in particular the firing of nine U.S. attorneys – led to Gonzales' resignation in 2007.

The report on Schlozman said he politicized and mistreated his staff and tried to punish agency employees he believed were too liberal. The report cited a 2003 e-mail in which Schlozman noted it had been awhile since he had had to "scream with a bloodcurdling cry at some commie."

Investigators first referred the case to federal prosecutors last year.

Comments

[DavidOH]

If he did "cross the line" and lied under oath, he should be prosecuted.

[mystic]

One should not criticize our government.

[jtwalk45]

what happen to the rule of law ? If anyone can lie under oath and not face any charges then there is no LAW at all.this is not our side verses theirs this is both sides lose for ever,we will suffer the loss in all our legal papers and court actions will be worthless.this decision shows we have a weak attorney General

[ThanksMatt]

Disappointing.

Is Mr. Holder in the right place or should he be looking for another job?

Here is something for Glenn Beck to dance on.... oh wait, we talk about Republicans so there is nothing to see here.

[imsosure]

This further exemplifies the double standard the GOP lives by especially when one of their mouth pieces is found to be lying with wanton abandon for any accountability for their words.

This inconsistency in law enforcement ought to be startling and creating uproar throughout the nation.

I don't understand why it doesn't, what have we become to allow such disregard for law enforcemnt?

[TovSquirrel]

SSDD

[afgail]

If Holder dosen't have a sworn affidavit from Schlozman fingering Karl Rove the Holder needs to be given the door. Who needs another AG who won't prosecute political hacks for thier crimes against his country?

[WeMustSpeakOut]

It looks like that is exactly what we have.

[Rule Of Law]

Investigation that prove criminal behavior waved away with the stroke of a pen.

We don't even get the obligatory sham trial other 3rd world countries would put on...

[medic628]

Since the standards are being established in these matters, will the rank and file be able to use them when needed. Or are they going to be reserved or the criminals.

[MSC2007]

AG Holder and the DOJ can’t prosecute Bradley Schlozman because AG Holder and the DOJ has a conflict defending Bradley Schlozman in his personal capacity as a co-conspirator in the ongoing healthcare reform “racketeering” case MSC - Samuel Lipari v. GE - Jeffrey Immelt 07-0849 WD of Missouri.
http://www.medicalsupplychain.com/pdf/Lipari%20v%20GE%20et%20al%20Federal.pdf

The DOJ should have been disqualified from defending Bradley Schlozman but this is the criminal enterprise Bradley Schlozman, Roy & Matt Blunt, Kit Bond and John Wood directly set up to obstruct justice in Federal and State cases effecting healthcare reform initiatives for Missouri and the Nation.
http://www.medicalsupplychain.com/pdf/Motion%20to%20Disqualify%20AG%20Michael%20Mukasey.pdf

In addition, a separate matter not addressed by AG Eric Holders’ investigation of Bradley Schlozman is the unwillingness and direct violation of Dr. George Tillers civil rights. Bradley Schlozman, John Wood and Matt Whitworth all failed to protect Dr. George Tiller from the intimidation and threats, which lead to Dr. Tillers death. Matt Whitworth has been promoted to a magistrate judge for his efforts.
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-mo--hitworthappointment,0,5689361.story

When our AG participates in the obstruction of justice like Ashcroft, Gonzales and Mukasey its a denial of Justice. Where is our Judiciary Committee, if Holder won’t do his job, demand his resignation?

[MSC2007]

Matt Whitworth link correction:
http://www.fox4kc.com/news/sns-ap-mo--hitworthappointment,0,5689361.story

[BambooHarvester]

AFSAP !
~

[blastit]

I hope this guy is getting off because he's going to spill the goods on others other then that I don't even know what to say! why is Bush , Rove and Cheney still walking around free as birds

[Paisano]

Amazing... When did we suspend the constitution???

[gconners]

That would be 2001, no, actually 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court APPOINTED George Bush as President.

[springsm]

Correct! And then GW made it official.."it is just a damn piece of paper" after all. Then he. Cheney and Rummy methodically ignored it. When one administration does that, the others can follow. I thought that this might be part of the change we voted for. Alas....

[WeMustSpeakOut]

Yes indeed. That was when it officially died with Bu$ie's order of "Do Not Resuscitate."

[Durango]

That is too bad.

he should at least lose his law license for that.

Is there no longer any accountability? I know that in November 2008 I voted for accountability as well as change.

[toxicbrainpoison]

Can I lie under oath and get away with it now? Yeah to lawlessness and anarchy. Great job.

[sjones66]

only if you are a republican theocrat neocon.

[catgirl666]

Why can't our elected officials like Obama just stand for somehing. It makes me so mad I almost wish Dennis Kucinich would have won.

[WeMustSpeakOut]

No no no. Applying the rule of law has been reserved specifically for us, the indentured servant class. We must know our place.

[dadw5boys]

If the people in the deaprtment would not stand up for their Fellow Americans then they deserve what they get !!!!!!

DON'T WANT TO TREATED LIKE A SLAVE THEN STAND UP AGAINST SLAVERY !!!!!!! PERIOD !!

You can't expect law enforcement to solve all the injustices if your no willing to stand up yourself.

Notice those JOB SCARED were not at the hearing telling the truth !!!!!!