Special Counsel or Impeachment -- It's Bush's Choice

Today on CBS' Face the Nation, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said his committee will give Alberto Gonzales one week to re-clarify his statements.  Last week both documents and the FBI Director contradicted the testimony of Gonzales a few days prior.  Leahy is giving Gonzales one last chance and then the gloves are off:

"He has a week to correct it if he wants," Sen. Patrick Leahy,D-Vermont, said. "If he doesn't correct it, then I think that there areso many errors in there that the pressure will be very, very heavy,whether it's a special prosecutor, special counsel efforts within the –within the Congress."

This next part is where it gets tricky.  Obviously the Judiciary Committee prefers to have a special counsel.  But that may not happen.  Congress can request a special counsel.  Ultimately though, the decision is made by Solicitor General Paul Clement.  The problem is that Clement is a Bush official, and may be instructed by Dick Cheney not to appoint a special counsel for fear of it opening the executive branch up to further investigations regarding the legality of the warrantless eavesdropping program.

Even though the congressional request can be denied, the Democrats still have political leverage.  Judiciary Committee Chairman can call for impeachment of Gonzales.  So in other words, the Democrats' message to the Administration should be this: allow Clement to appoint a special counsel, or else face an impeachment trial for their Attorney General.

Comments

[George]

What a perfect distraction for the fact that Democrats refuse to do anything about Iraq. I feel like Gonzalez is doing this crap on purpose. I mean, he just cant be this completely stupid, right?

[Robert]

I think it is more then Stupidity George. I think it is just pure arogance. If you didn't have anyone to answer to anyone who could keep you in check or have any fear of consequence what do you think would happen. I think Gonzales was on such a roll where he had no fear that anything he did would be questioned. Just look at what has happened since he became AG. What is scary, I think Todd is trying to say will anyone in this administation actually put the administation on trial. The AG is not supose to cover for the President but make sure the LAW is followed. The Imperial President has bastardize the Constitution and the nation was based on a balance system with an almost superior Legislation rather then a strong Executive. Why. so we wouldn't have liberties taken away without a majority respounce. Or that is just my quick thought