Again last week, we saw the arrogance of former White House advisor Karl Rove when an empty chair sat for him in front of the House Judiciary subcommittee where he was required by subpoena to testify. Not only did he refuse to appear before the committee -- let alone testify -- but he defiantly left the country thereby blatantly ignoring his obligations under the congressional subpoena served on him. When he did return to the country, Rove found the time to gab with TV reporters on a summer press tour in Beverly Hills, but failed to stop by the Judiciary Committee in Washington.
After my ruling that Mr. Rove's claims of immunity are not legally valid, Congressman Conyers and I gave him one last chance to comply with the law. He ignored us. As he let yet another deadline slip by this week, Mr. Rove's disregard for Congress has become intolerable. Mr. Rove needs to understand that he is not above the law and should obey a subpoena just like any other American is required to do.
Mr. Rove should not be able to hide behind the president to avoid the American public. Americans are fed up with this administration flouting the law. They expect Congress to hold people accountable and that is exactly what we intend to do. Letting Mr. Rove get away with this would set a dangerous precedent. I have recommended that we hold Mr. Rove in contempt of Congress. If we need to revive the inherent contempt procedure which gives Congress the authority to arrest those who defy Congressional subpoenas, then so be it.
The courts have made clear that no one, not even the president, is immune from compulsory process. Any person who scoffs at the law and who has committed an offense that is punishable by jail time should be put in jail. This includes Karl Rove.
Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez is the Chairwoman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. She represents the 39th Congressional District of California.
Fellow Bloggers,
Can I take you folks down memory lane?
Do you remember those silly beer commercials, in which each side was yelling what they thought was the key attribute of their favorite suds?
One side would yell - "Great Taste!!!"
While the other was yelling - "Less Filling!!!"
Republicans, Democrats- ---ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!!!!
Honestly, its starting to get on my nerves...I'm a Democrat , but its enough to make me want to petition for a box on the ballot marked 'Neither'.
Isnt the important thing that fewer lives are currently being lost?
Furthermore, how can we seriously discuss the notion of ANY kind of a 'Win', when more lives have been lost in this struggle than were lost on 911? The audacity of ANYONE to proclaim a victory is tantamount to one saying - '"just start banging your head against the wall...the pain will go away when you stop!"
The notion of a win in Iraq reminds me of a comedy skit I heard on the radio when I was a child....they were interviewing 'Tonto'...the journalist asked Tonto how he met the Lone Ranger...
"I bandaged his wounds and saved his life"
"Wow - thats great Tonto! - I can see why you two are great friends"
"Well- its was the least I could do - it was me who shot him"
Please,
Stop bullshitting and put Rove in the Capitol jail.
and please,
share my sentiments with with Rep. Conyers.
You do fine work and thanks for endorsing Senator Obama.
My regards you and your sister.
As you can see, we out here are besides ourselves with frustration over the inaction of the Dem leadership and Congress. I and many others worked so hard to change things in 2006 and since then have basically been waiting for the cavalry to come in and start dealing with all the law breaking in Washington. But the law breaking has been permitted to stand, time after time, in spite of empty words of how the Bush administration was going to be held accountable--for anything! And NOTHING has been done. Just some committee hearings that went so far and no more. And suddenly, the issues just disappear. What?
I believe this is a reason for the pitifully low poll numbers for the Congress and Rep Pelosi. Lower than GWB!
It's nice to see words like yours, but based on past behavior, I've given up even trying to get excited or look forward to some action. The rule of law is too unimportant for ya'll in Washington? Then please resign and get someone in with some honor and a back bone.
If it turns out you're going to be different and will lead to some action, I apologize for lumping you in with others. Best wishes.
I worked so hard and gave money ,that I couldn't afford to give, to the Democrats because they promised change. I believed they were truthful.
Well, I am heartsick and worry about what my grandchildren are going to have to pay for when they become young adults.
The fact that Rove wasn't arrested is just one more sign to me that the whole process of what is right is wrong.
Please just DO IT!
Tomorrow is a work day: Arrest the ever-smug Karl Rove.
It will be good for him. It will be good for all of us.
You don't need to convince us that you have the right to prosecute him.
Exercise the powers and responsibilities that are yours.
We have been waiting for you to do your job.
Thank you.
Clearly it is all the guts they really have. Disappointing and sad, but not at all surprising.
The Bush/Cheney Crime Syndicate, the oil companies, and OPEC will continue to run this country...
Drafting words without action is akin to conducting an orchestra without instruments. It’s nice to see that members of congress have trained themselves to faint on cue regarding this administration’s daily transgressions; unfortunately this country needs more than empty rhetoric to fight the real problems that face the nation. You’re points are valid and well spoken, but at the end of the day we know it's all play-acting.