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

[Ssscoots]

What's so damned difficult about this? Declare the man in contempt and round him up. Heck, under the law any of us can legally arrest him and deliver him to authorities.

Ms. Sanchez, I - we - implore you to give teeth to your strong words and somberly do what's right and called for here. Set the right kind of precedent, please.

[NoMercy]

For those who say Rove has not committed any crimes, know that he now has - refusal to obey a subpoena (subpoena means "under penalty", so it carries an implied threat if unheeded).

The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives has the duty to "execute the commands of the House."

US Code, title 2, chap. 4 -

Section 78. Duties of Sergeant at Arms

It shall be the duty of the Sergeant at Arms of the House of
Representatives to ... execute the commands of the House and all processes
issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker.

What is everybody waiting for?

[scooperss]

A table?!

[robbor]

and while you're at it, let's add pelosi to the list. what is she afraid of and or protecting? i do not get it.
I think she needs to be called to a hearing to explain herself. her performance is abysmal.

[FirstShirt]

I'm a republican and I agree. Show up, take the 5th, if youmust. But never, never put yourself above the law.

[scooperss]

Absolutely.

[drkazmd65]

FirstShirt - nice to see a Republican posting here that does respect the law and Constitution. And - this Liberal Democrat couldn't agree with you more.

If Rove has nothing to hide - then what is the harm of showing up? If he does have something to hide that might incriminate himself - then the 5th can be applied.

Either way the law is upheld.

[Toonadude]

President Bush IS the law.

[Lemeritus]

For those of you complaining about partisanship, FirstShirt defines "common ground" -- and that is the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Apparently this is a concept better grasped by the citizens of our country than by our representatives in the House or in the Senate. No one is above the law.

Justice Brandeis wrote: "The government is the potent omnipresent teacher. For good or ill it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. To declare that the end justifies the means -- to declare that the government may commit crimes -- would bring terrible retribution." (Thanks to Moshe for first referencing this clarion quote.)

No one is above the law -- and certainly not this unelected gray eminence. He can take the 5th. He can claim executive privilege. Or he can use the Alzheimer's excuse so popular with neocons. But he must appear! If the Sergeant-at-Arms needs help, there are plenty of people on this site alone who would happily volunteer to be deputized.

[Titonwan]

If you're waiting for me, you're backing up. Do it. I'm tired of empty rhetoric. There's a reason that Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul were run off and ignored. They would actually DO SOMETHING about where this f#cked up country is heading. Democratic and Republican leadership won't allow THAT. No!... I can't believe how far we've fallen. Richard Nixon should be proud.

[scooperss]

Obviously he does think he's above the law and why shouldn't he? Congress has taken accountability off the table for themselves and the administration. Bribery, lies, shady land deals, the list goes on and on and yet, NOTHING is being done about them.
I'll believe you mean it IF you act. I'm not holding my breath and I'm not voting for any incumbent. I urge everyone here to do the same.

[AlphaDoc]

>I'll believe you mean it IF you act.<

Ditto. Personally, I'm sick and tired of all the sound and fury which winds up signifying nothing.

[arkgrfx61]

Agreed - empty words have no meaning.

I'm really amazed they can't (won't) do anything about this. Any "lesser" being would be tried and convicted of treason.

[egal]

Thank you forhose standing up for the Constitution and the American nation/people in this case. Of course it is even more imperative for a president and those who support him to be beholden to the very laws they are supposed to uphold and enforce. For that reason alone, we must expecially condemn and justly punish Rove and all those above him who make the same elitist claims that their opinions, actions, and crimes are above prosecution.

[rooks]

Thank you. However there are ones that don't see this and the may be blind for life.

[ObamAtomic]

How much longer before we can see the respect the Constitution deserve?

[Coronadoman]

Please, if there is a shred of justice in America, Rove will be forced to obey the law.

Not for any more complicated reason than if it were me....

...I'd be in jail.

No one is above the law. A President said that.

For god's sake, please make this happen. Show the world we are still a nation of laws.

[thirteen13]

Hey, they still arrest people for simple marjuana possession. Go figure.

[donaldw6]

A few days ago, I posted a comment here to the effect that failure by Congress to imprison Karl Rove would make it complicit in Mr. Rove's misbehavior. Please excuse the bluntness of that statement, but since I have already stated my position on this, I felt it should be repeated on this thread.

Congress has the power of inherent contempt which I believe it must exercise in circumstances such as this, when the Department of Justice and the courts themselves have been compromised. Mr. Rove is a symbol of the politicization of these institutions, and much more. America and the world is looking to this Congress, Ms. Sanchez, in the hope that it will finally do more than wag its collective finger at this tragic corruption, and take action, not in a partisan and vindictive manner, but from a somber sense of duty to its citizens.

I believe many in Congress must greatly overthink their strategies, and if it was for the sake of public approval, one would be hard pressed not to assess that strategy as flawed. The truth is, public approval comes from having a simple, clear set of principles, and sticking to them no matter what. If you agree, then I believe you know what you have to do.

[Herrington]

Sanchez, this is the exact moment, the defining moment, in modern history as it has been in past resorts to inherent contempt, that the Congress must act to assert its role in government. To not act is to consign the legislative branch to servitude. In which case it might as well be dissolved.

The nature of the outrage that brought the legislature to seek the sworn testimony of Rove is irrelevant. The act and foregoing acts of defiance cannot be brooked and have the government survive as it was designed. Some compliant twits may call it politics, but if politics is about the survival of the Constitution and checks and balances, then their politics is bent on the destruction of the nation.

I for one will gladly serve as an officer of the Congress to see to the apprehension and confinement of one Karl Rove. Literally, there is no higher calling for which I could serve my nation and there is no higher political goal than the preservation of same.

[YankeeCanuck]

Yes, jail for Rove.
PS. It's "flouting" the law, not flaunting.

[ObamAtomic]

Both are correct, Karl Rove is flouting and flaunting the Congress.

flout =A contemptuous action or remark..

flaunt =To parade oneself ostentatiously.

Mr Rove flout and flaunt always

[bobdevo]

No - Rove is flaunting his flouting. Not the other way round.

[Retrofuturistic]

Why don't you just put Rove in jail under the provisions of the Military Commissions Act? I mean, what's the big deal? Haven't all of his civil rights been destroyed, just like the rest of us? I mean, don't we have equality in terms of the rights we have lost?

[finethnx]

I'll believe it when I see it.