Holding Them Accountable

The Bush administration has taken historically unprecedented steps in its assertions of executive privilege and authority. For instance, the Vice President has fought over relatively modest requests to disclose information such as with whom he consulted when setting the Administration's energy policy. The Vice President's office, during a confrontation with the National Archives over executive branch records, even declared itself an entity outside of the executive branch with enhanced powers to resist the public's right to know about its actions.

These assertions of executive privilege have wide-ranging implications for both Congress' day-to-day oversight of the Bush administration and for efforts to hold the President and Vice President accountable.

That is why I introduced the Executive Branch Prosecutions Act. This legislation would suspend the statute of limitations for crimes committed while the president and vice president hold office. Federal law currently suspends the statute of limitations for crimes related to national security. That suspension should extend to any crime committed by the President or Vice President while in office.

President Bush has already shown his willingness to do what he can to avoid scrutiny of his actions even after he leaves office. A federal judge recently struck down part of his 2001 Executive Order giving former presidents and vice presidents the right to review executive orders before they are made public under the Freedom of Information Act. Confronted with this administration's unprecedented demand for secrecy, Congress must do all it can to inject some measure of accountability and transparency where possible. The Executive Branch Prosecutions Act goes a long way toward accomplishing that goal.

Comments

[Deidroni]

Sounds like good legislation to me.
Good luck passing it in the Senate.

IMPEACHMENT is the constitional tool already available to hold the Bush Administration accountable. USE IT!!!

[Hallucinocynic]

Congresswoman Lofgren, does this mean that you DO support impeachment, but at a later date?

Impeachment proceedings can be of invaluable help - whether or not individuals are found criminally culpable - in the reassessment of the constituti­onally-man­dated division of labor, as well as the development and ratification of amendments that would, in future, protect the republic from rogue chief executives.

These proceedings should be initiated BEFORE the next general election with the hope that congress also address campaign financing, which is so corrupted that, currently, I don't trust many elected officials. I certainly DO NOT support HRC simply because she is so financially indebted to the pharmaceutical, insurance and defense lobbies...­and please don't try to convince me that no deals have been struck simply because she's willingly taken millions of dollars from these entities.

If you really want to help America, and not just serve your political party, you will support Dennis Kucinich's efforts to clean up the cesspool that we laughingly call our federal "governmen­t."

[MaryW]

Yes, yes, yes. These madmen must be held responsible. The World Court War Crimes Tribunal is an excellent idea and may be the only way we'll recover even a modicum of dignity in the eyes of the international community. I do agree with MWAnderson, too, however--don't believe for a minute that these despots will go meekly; they are as dangerous and crazy as any from history; they are capable of anything.

[realitytrumpsbull]

If you really believe that, then why not
sign on with Kucinich and throw em out of office? Burning daylight, here(actually,
we're burning other countries' petroleum, at
gunpoint, and stuff).

[monstabunny]

I have a hard time believing that bill will pass. It's too open to abuse by the majority party. That's what keeps the Dems voting alongside the Repubs on anything which might further enable the opposite party to expose and punish illegal acts.

[nowaterboardUSA]

A worthy effort. I pray it passes, though those Reps do a good job of "standing by their men", to quoate Tammy Wynette. I might also suggest a brief filed at the World Court that would have Bush&Co. extradicted to The Hague for trial.

[research]

Zoe, It's a good idea, but I can't see it passing. The rethugs will filibuster, Bush will veto, and the rethugs will not override.

Impeachment is the only way.

Don't worry though, War crimes have no statue of limitations.

[freespeach]

To actively work against the reasonable efforts of Dennis Kucinich on impeachment borders on treason.

This introduction of a new Executive Branch Prosecutions Act comes off as less than genuine, given the underhanded vote switching that went on last Wednesday.

Why introduce a complex new Act, when there are plenty of laws already on the books that allow us to deal with our criminals Bush and Cheney?

[ahornick]

Suggest you start demanding to know if waterboarding has being used by the Bush Administration at any point. That would be a criminal offense using existing laws. Talk to former Rep. E. Holtzman and go out on a limb.

[NickOhio]

Let's hold these people accountable for their actions.

No one is above the law. Our constitution is clear on that point. Only interpretations have clouded it when it comes to Executive Privilege. The Bush Administration is the most secretive in our history. What have they got to hide? Crimes?

I would have enjoyed seeing them wriggle and squirm during Impeachment proceedings, but The House has not cooperated along these lines. While the official word on this has been that it would detract from getting real work accomplished, I challenge that what is more important than protecting our US Constitution and holding our Executive Branch people accountable for their actions?

Indictment of the Bush people for their actions that may be crimes (aren't lies considered impeachable offenses??? If so, then aren't they also indictable since they were made while under oath of office and led to the deaths of many thousands of innocent people in Iraq?) is one of the most important pieces of legislative work that you could ever perform.

Let's get rid of those who were responsible for the war and elect people who are peaceful and not able to be corrupted by power or money from the lobby community.

[ag1914]

this is the best news i've heard in months.the­y need to be held accountable for thier actions,no matter how long it takes!!

[wldnswmmr]

While this bill is a good idea, wouldn't it make more sense to pass it after January 20, 2009, when maybe you won't need 2/3 of Congress to go along with it?

Also, while you're on the subject of Presidential accountability, why not a bill to repeal the retroactive exonerations for war crimes found in the 2005 Detainee Treatment Act and the 2006 Military Commissions Act? Those are blights on America's conscience and should not stand.

[brutus948]

Then why did you quash the impeachment bill that dennis kucinich put out last week