Gonzales did not tell Congress the truth, yet again
In addition to his role in the , planning the Administration's , and pushing the program, Alberto Gonzales is in trouble yet again. This time, the political trouble involves statements Gonzales made to Congress about the Patriot Act. During an April 17, in front of a Senate panel, the Attorney General claimed there had not been one case in which civil liberties were violated since the first Patriot Act was signed:
The track record established over the past three years has demonstratedthe effectiveness of the safeguards of civil liberties put in placewhen the Act was passed. There has not been one verified case of civilliberties abuse.
But as uncovered this morning, just one week before that 2005 testimony, Gonzales was told by the FBI that the Patriot Act actually was violated. Also, Gonzales had repeatedly been told of these violations over the previous few months:
Six days earlier, the FBI sent Gonzales a copy of a report that saidits agents had obtained personal information that they were notentitled to have. It was one of at least half a dozen reports of legalor procedural violations that Gonzales received in the three monthsbefore he made his statement to the Senate intelligence committee,according to internal FBI documents released under the Freedom ofInformation Act.
Either Gonzales knowingly mislead Congress, or he did not read the multiple memos that the FBI had sent him.
The Justice Department quickly released a downplaying everything:
"The statements from the attorney general are consistent with statements from other officials at the FBI and the department."
Patrick Fitzgerald for Attorney General, anyone?
"or he did not read the multiple memos that the FBI had sent him"
I admire your exacting fairness, Todd. But it's the guys job to read his mail!
Remember, when it comes to Joe Regular Guy, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
When are we going to stop putting up with this....
Posted by: granny | 2007.07.10 at 11:47 AM