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Frist Records Subpoenaed
Both the SEC and the Justice Department are investigating Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. This morning's Washington Post reports that the SEC has subpoenaed Frist.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has been subpoenaed to turn over personal records and documents as federal authorities step up a probe of his July sales of HCA Inc. stock, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued the subpoena within the past two weeks, after initial reports that Frist, the Senate's top Republican official, was under scrutiny by the agency and the Justice Department for possible violations of insider trading laws.
The Culture of Corruption is ever widening. At what point does Frist have to resign his position as Majority Leader?
As we think about the ramifications of these investigations, the following points can be made:
If you were Bill Frist, or Tom DeLay, or even Karl Rove at this juncture, how would you be spending your day?
Not, probably, hanging around with Hastert et al. Not worrying about the Bush agenda in the House. Not even working people over about Miers, Roe v. Wade, etc.
No, you would be spending time with your lawyers, going over the evidence. Reviewing your options. Being concerned that because your party was so "tough on crime" in the last century that judges now have no leeway on sentencing you, should you be convicted of a crime.
You would not even have time to notice that your "base"--the Christian right--was rapidly decamping further to the right, having had eyes opened to your crimes, your lies, and your lack of integrity.
And you would barely notice the man shaking in his boots over on the sidelines--the man you helped put into office so that your crimes could proceed as planned...
Judge Lifts Contempt of Court Citation for Miller
By E&P Staff
Published: October 12, 2005 8:45 PM ET updated 11:00 PM ET
NEW YORK Judith Miller's second appearance before the grand jury probing the Plame/CIA leak case on Wednesday lasted only a little more than an hour but it was enough to earn a judge's order releasing The New York Times reporter from the contempt-of-court citation that landed her in jail.
The order was still in place until her testimony was complete. It was liften by Judge Thomas F. Hogan.
"I am delighted that the contempt order has been lifted, and Judy is now completely free to go about her great reporting as a very principled and honorable reporter," said Robert Bennett, one of Miller's attorneys.
Much later in the day, after the story was widely reported elsewhere, The New York Times quoted Bill Keller, executive editor: "It's a great relief to have Judy out of legal jeopardy. And it should clear the way for The Times to do what we've been yearning to do: tell the story."
Keller had said in a letter to newsroom staffers on Tuesday that once Ms. Miller's "obligations to the grand jury are fulfilled, we intend to write the most thorough story we can...." He also criticized "armchair critics" and those who had spread rumors and "myths" about the case.
A New York Times spokeswoman told E&P the paper would not say when any major article would appear.
Miller testified Wednesday about a recently uncovered June 23, 2003, discussion with her source, "Scooter" Libby.
Writing in the Washington Post on Thursday, Jim VandeHei observed, "The June 23 conversation would be significant if Miller and Libby discussed Plame, the lawyers in the case said. If they did, it could help Fitzgerald establish that Libby was involved in an administration effort to unmask Plame weeks before she was publicly outed by conservative columnist Robert D. Novak in the middle of July."
VandeHei added that lawyers in the case "said Fitzgerald does not appear likely to charge anyone with the crime he originally set out to prove: whether anyone in the Bush administration knowingly disclosed the identity of a CIA operative whose covert status the agency was actively trying to keep secret. That crime is difficult to prove because Fitzgerald would have to show that the officials knew Plame was a covert operative and that the CIA did not want her name revealed.
"Instead, based on the questions Fitzgerald is asking, the lawyers surmised that he is looking into a broad conspiracy charge against a group of administration officials or into charging one or more officials with easier-to-prove crimes such as disclosing classified material, making false statements or perjury."
Meanwhile, appearing on MSNBC's "Hardball," Mike Allen of The Washington Post said officials inside the White House are readying this legal defense: the Valerie Plame information came from the press to them, not the other way around. One problem: Some people at the State Department (including Colin Powell) may have testified that the White House specifically requested information about Plame.
Karl Rove, top White House deputy, will testify this week, for the fourth time. Fitzgerald may move quickly after that to produce indictments.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001305282
Posted by: Karen at October 13, 2005 07:59 AM
Karen,
I agree with your statement wholeheartedly. I know I have vented my frustration, as many have, at Bush as the culprit because he is the front man, and the representative for his party. He catches the flak. I think he was used, and has been an unwitting party to things that may very well plague him to his dying day, if he is even ever able to process it all. I would not want to be him for even an hour.
I just got back from lunch with a fundamentalist religious person who I have had differences with over progressive ideas vs. the regimented ideological position, and,.....we both agree, finally, on one thing......the people behind this President appear to have been corrupt, and we both hope swift and sure indictments are following. This religious person even said she thinks Rove is corrupt, and she "hopes they get him, if they can".
And she is able to see that in spite of Dobson telling the religious right that Karl Rove told him Miers is pro-life.
How desperate must they be getting when they have to have James Dobson telling the United States that the President has chosen someone who passed his litmus test (even though he said he didn't have a litmus test during the '04 campaign).
She can see it and she watches Faux news!!!!
O.K. Another point. How cold hearted do you have to be to be the willing, coniving and malicious manipulator of all these people?
Not only is the man you helped get elected shaking in his boots over on the side, you have made him the laughing stock of the entire world.
Maybe I shouldn't say this, but, if Karl Rove goes down I will know my prayers have definitely been answered. Corruption is his name, ruining people is his game, in my own personal opinion.
HANG ON
- by Michael W. Smith
Let the tempest and the flood
Shake your soul and spill your blood
Like an old song
Keep hold'n on
Let the people laugh at you
Call you names and say you're through
Never let go
Keep hangin' on
Hang on, hang on
Can you hear me,
I'm gonna say it again
Hang on, hang on
Never giving up, no, never giving in
Hang on every hopeful word
Even when it seems absurd
Keep holdin' on
If you triumph when you fail
Keep your head when you prevail
Be a hero
Keep hangin' around
Hang on, hang on
Are you listening,
Let me say it again
Hang on, hang on
Never giving up, no,
Never giving in