Why Karl Rove Should Go To Jail

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.

Comments

[antworks]

This all sound fine and dandy, Honorable Representative Sanchez. But, as many posters have mentioned we the American public need to see some action instead of just talk! This contempt of Congress has been going on most of the eight years this president has been in office. Practically nothing has been done to challenge this idiot. The only thing that is painfully obvious to us "regular Americans" is that there are two systems of rules of law, here. One for us and none for misguided (and most likely criminal behavior) of people like Rove, Meir, Libby and this administration! Recently here in D.C., a judge ordered that citizens that did not show up for court duty be subject to arrest warrants and jailed. Do I need to make it anymore clear of the discrepancy in application of the laws, regarding this issue of Rove et al testifying before your Congressional committee? I think not.

Like Nike says, "Just do it", Ms. Chairwoman!

If Bush wants to claim executive privilege, let him. Let this administration show the completeness of its disdain for the letter of the law. Then maybe the American people will never let this happen, again.
We don't have a president. We have a dictator masquerading as a president and Congress seems to be trying to find it's co - equal legislative footings. Get to it, please. If Congress won't impeach Bush and Cheney, at least embarrass the hell out of these freaks.

[Lemeritus]

"Recently here in D.C., a judge ordered that citizens that did not show up for court duty be subject to arrest warrants and jailed. Do I need to make it anymore clear of the discrepancy in application of the laws, regarding this issue of Rove et al testifying before your Congressional committee? I think not."

Excellent point!

[AzRealProgressive]

Court duty is a societal obligation that is a summons to do it. Every administrative profession that runs any portion of this country ,has some form of immunity for their particular profession.

Immunity and privilege in government is not something new. Every administration has used it in some form or another.

[antworks]

Thank you.

[woodchips]

There is nothing in the US Constitution protecting "executive privilege". However, the courts have allowed some leeway on matters pertaining to the protection of "military or diplomatic secrets". Nothing in this case fits into that narrow area of protection. Rove needs to appear or be jailed for contempt.

[antworks]

I agree Rove needs to appear. Additionally, I have no idea what this president will do on this issue. But, if past his history tells us anything, I am guessing he'll grasp at this legal principle to protect Rove and himself. Keep in mind (as you well know, I'm fairly certain), this is a president that said the legal process should be allowed to proceed to conclusion in the Libby case. Thereby giving the impression that he respects the court and the law. Then, bamm..
he commutes Libby's sentence! This dictator has no shame and the law means nothing to him. It saddens me that Congress won't get tough with this guy. In the future we may have even more trouble with another president because of the precedents that are being set by allowing this man to thump his nose at the law of the land.

[TitForTat]

Well said!
Please do arrest Rove ASAP!
Please then follow up with impeachment proceedings for Bush/Cheney.
Your indignation and anger are justified, but Rove is just the tip of the garbage-heap.

[jdenham]

Rep. Sanchez we all agree Karl Rove should go to jail, but we have seen very little courage from this Congress to stand up. By the time the Congress gets around to restoring inherent contempt it will be next year. I am tired of long winded outrage by this Congress. What I would like to see is some action, do something impeach the Attorney General if he wont enforce Congressional subpoenas.

Lets see something done or quit wasting our time.

[reader110]

They all belong in jail - Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfeld and Rice. Put them on trial and we'd probably find more people who contributed to the lies and conspiracies that have somehow become accepted in our country. This administration is an embarrassment and is why America is losing it's standing in the world community. If I could afford it, I'd move to France or some other place in Europe that has a healthcare system that actually takes care of its citizens. Unfortunately, because of the economy and the mortgage debacle I would lose a fortune trying to sell my house in this market.

Caught between a rock and a hard place.

[AzRealProgressive]

May I suggest sellling your home to one the French/Ger­man/Korean­/Italian immigrants who are waiting in line to get here. Having a ready made residence would be helpful. Or maybe you can offer a trade with them for their home in their old country.

Don't forget Canada as an option. If the lines are too long to see a doctor in Canada, you can always pop back over the border for a visit.

[DKLA]

why do you hate America(ns)? Or why do you love (trust-fun­d/draft-do­dging)crim­inals?

[Austintatious]

The Congress should be able to look to the Attorney General, to act on its behalf, but that will not happen. General Mukasey's job description is, plain and simple, to make sure that the American people don't learn the extent of the Bush Administration's criminal activity . He is, in his own way, even more despicable than his predecessor. The government's top law enforcement officer, with the world watching, who couldn't bring himself to admit that water boarding is torture. And that, my friends, was the high point of his performance, to date.


That said, we should not have high hopes that the Dems will act on principle, here. Remember that many of the Dems in Congress voted to approve Mukasey. Rep. Sanchez's suggestion that the Dems will suddenly develop some backbone is farcical. The Dems will continue to string the public along, baiting us with just enough tough talk to suggest that they intend to do something meaningful, but they will not. Mostly, they are enablers of the harmful policies of Bush and his Republican Party - a despicable lot, in their own right.

[Lemeritus]

Aw, Austintati­ous... just when I thought I couldn't be more depressed, here you come with what is, quite frankly, the sad truth.

[Austintatious]

Yes, Lemeritus, it's bitter but necessary medicine. The problem must be understood and acknowledged before it can be resolved. These blogs indicate that many Democrats are still buying the "bait and switch" tactics of their so called representatives in Congress, at least in the sense that they still believe the Dems are genuinely interested in pursuing justice.

They are not, nor do they intend to hold the Republicans accountable. Part of the reason is that many Dems have been supporters of the most offensive Republican policies, and public focus on the same would not be conducive to longevity in office.

Consider, for example, the peculiar and despicable behavior of Democratic Senator Rockefeller, who literally led the charge to pass Bush's most recent domestic spying legislation, intended, in part, to make sure that the crimes of the Administration don't see the light of day. Of course, the probable reason Rockefeller was so interested in its passage was to cover up his own knowledge of, and involvement in, the illegal activities of the Administration, arising from his involvement on the Senate Intelligence Committee. Perhaps the last chance for justice, there, and the Dems willingly became Bush/Cheney lackies.

If that ain't proof enough, I don't know what it will take. Until the people find a way to get their attention, the Dems will continue to sell out the American people. That's where all this blogging intellect and energy we see here should be channeled.

[zaneblue]

YES! GO! GO! GO! I'm so excited!

[knighthowl]

I believe he is flouting the law, not flaunting it. Nevertheless, he should be held to account and jailed as long as possible.

[muffler]

He is an American Citizen who broke the law. There is nothing more to say. Arrest him and make him appear. Call the Justice Department and make them look like idiots when they do nothing. Bush is going to pardon him in a few months anyway.

[Lemeritus]

In 2007, Mr. Bush charged that the DOJ will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against WH officials once the president has invoked executive prvilege. That used to be OUR Department of Justice, now it's just Bush's personal fire wall. Earlier this year, in February, Mukasey rejected contempt citations against Miers and Bolten.

I don't think the Justice Department cares very much about looking like idiots so long as the President is happy. Come to think of it, I don't think many people in Washington mind looking like idiots.

[SteveWeisert]

If Rove won't appear before Congress, the sergeant at arms should arrest him, and drag him before Congress in chains. If he refuses to take the oath, tell him that his statements will be considered as under oath, and if any perjury is found, he will be subject to the maximum penalty under the law.

[dshwa]

Send the sergeant to the fox news stuio and pull him right off the air. That would be must see TV!

[Lemeritus]

Even *I* would watch FOX to see that! (Rupert, are you listening?)

[ICanHasDemocracy]

It would be a pyrric victory,as we all now the commuter-in chief would pardon his old buddy. So where's the justice? No, Rove needs to be metaphorically tarred and feathered and become a persona non grata in Washington.
He destroyed many a career in his quest to put a puppet in place- time to cut his strings.

[tim4change]

The President is not able to pardon for issues where he himself is under impeachment proceedings. Lets all pray for (and support in any way possible) Rep Kucinichs articles impeachment of the President. Then this will not be a pyrric victory, it will be a real one for The Constitution and its ability to protect our children and our childrens children.
Otherwise the American Dream fades just like last nights.

[Cathexis]

I am curious:

Is there some obstacle to enforcing the laws they break?

Seriously ... I don't know why Bush & Cheney are still in office and Rove and a bunch oif others aren't in jail.

[Lemeritus]

Good news: "Executive privilege" does not strictly exist in the Constitution.

Bad news: Neither does Congress' power to issue subpoenas, though James Wilson, Supreme Court 1789-1798, signer of the Declaration of Independence said no one stands above the right of the Congress to "form the grand inquest of the state... [to] deligently inquire into girevances, arising both from men and things."

These privileges and powers are extensions of the enumerated powers under Section 2; one can scarcely be spoken in the same breath without the other (i.e., US v Nixon: ""To read the Article II powers of the President as providing an absolute privilege as against a subpoena essential to enforcement of criminal statutes on no more than a generalized claim of the public interest in confidentiality of nonmilitary and nondiplomatic discussions would upset the constitutional balance of 'a workable government' and gravely impair the role of the courts under Article III.")

Until recently, there was a dynamic tension between the two which blunted the force of one against the other. But never before has the government been so partisanly stacked in favor of the executive (to the point where some staffers actually believe their oath of office is to the president).

At issue is a show down between Congress and the Executive. In a Washington so completely saturated with Bush loyalists, how do you think that will shake out? And what damage will it do? I would imagine that is the Great Stumbling Block.

[adzeman]

Get him Rep Sanchez. The Siegleman intrigue and the politicization of Justice should be enough to put him in jail.

[DaveV]

It's time for those in charge in Washington,who hope to get re-elected,start to prosecuting this entire Bush/Cheney cabinet for crimes against humanity, crimes against the people of the United States, and acts of treason against the country. In the next six months this cabinet will walk away scott free after bilking the country out of billions of dollars for their friends and associates and leaving the next cabinet with more Serious problems then any cabinet has left before. No one person is above the law, that being said, whoever stands up and states the they prosecute to the fullest extent of the law those who have done wrong doings while in office will not only get my vote but the votes and support of the american people, WE ARE GETTING TIRE OF THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD!

[Oldchef]

Speaker Pelosi's taking impeachment off the table seems to have encouraged this bunch of crooks to do whatever they damn well please, knowing that there is no real punishment to come. That being said, the various committee chairpersons, should return to the ancient practice of sovereign contempt since Mukasey has breached the agreement from the 1930's to refer Congress's contempt charges to the courts. In the absence of cooperation from Mukasey, the committee chairpersons should send the Sergeant at Arms to arrest Rove and others who refuse to appear, and bring them physically before the committee. They still have their 5th amendment right to refuse to answer self-incriminating questions. Impeachment proceedings against Mukasey should be seriously considered for his refusals to cooperate with the Congress. He too is not above the law.

[gwr72]

The Bush people defy the congress, because they know they have
attorney general who is a crook and a supreme Court loaded with
conservatives who have no regard for the law of the land. So Rove,
Cheney, Rice etc have no respect for the American people. They
believe its ok to kill people in distant lands, and if we loose a few
American soldiers, well that ok. Because it won't be any of their
people.
Having just visited Mnt Rushmore, and heard the great words of
former presidents, one realizes just how far our nation has lost
its way under G.W. Bush. Bush and company are criminals and
accountable for crimes against humanity.

[DaveV]

It's time for all of Washington to start doing the right thing for all of America. First, start prosecuting anyone who has broken the law, if any of you in charge want to get re-elected then start holding those responsible for wrong doings accountable for their actions. Second, no one is above the law. prosecute the entire Bush/Cheney cabinet for crimes against humanity, crimes against the people, and acts of treason against the country. In the next six months we will have a new cabinet with more problems then any other cabinet has ever been left with and Bush/Cheney will walk away scott free after bilking the country out of billions dollars for their friends and associates. It's time to hold their feet to the fire and let them tell us if it's torture or not. Whoever attests that they will prosecute this cabinet for wrong doings will get not only my vote, but the vote of the people.