FISA and the U.S. Attorneys Scandal

Nancy Pelosi has decided to let the FISA law elapse. On her Facebook profile, Pelosi wrote that she voted "to uphold the Constitution to uphold the Constitution." Pelosi and House Democrats showed the spine their colleagues in the Senate lacked. The House Republicans response was to take their ball and go home.

House Republicans have just staged a walkout from the chamber to protest the decision of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic leadership to let an act that expands the government’s surveillance powers expire.

Talking Points Memo has video of Minority Leader John Boehner staging the walkout.



Part of the walkout was a smoke screen: Democrats and the 35 Republicans that didn't walk out voted 223 to 32 to hold Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers in contempt for refusing to testify about their roles in the U.S. Attorney scandal. Bush decided that his staffers were above the law and need not testify.

"This is beyond arrogance. This is hubris taken to the ultimate degree," Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in the closing moments of the debate.

Administration officials purged U.S. Attorneys that would not go after Democrats and bogus voter fraud cases. The White House wanted loyal Bushies to use the Justice Department to win elections. Republican Senator Pete Domenici personally asked Bush to fire U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. Domenici was angered that Iglesias would not (illegally) leak information on possible indictments against Democrats.

U.S. Attorney Carol Lam was fired after issuing a warrant to search Kyle Dustin "Dusty" Foggo. A man involved in the Duke Cunningham bribery scandal and Brent Wilkes's prostitute parties. Wilkes was a major Bush fundraiser. Two days after Lam issued the warrant on Foggo, Justice Department Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson fired off this email.

"the real problem we have right now with Carol Lam that leads me to conclude that we should have someone ready to be nominated on 11/18, the day her 4-year term expires."

Nowhere is Lam's record on enforcing immigration laws is mentioned. Sampson admitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee that the Justice Department never discussed with her handling of illegal immigration.

Boehner is helping turn the GOP into the party that stands up against enforcing laws. His sense of politics and policy are so misguided that he is helping the Democrats win more House seats. House Republicans are retiring, the party has a nominee that the base can't get behind and Boehner still wants to hitch House Republicans to Bush.

Paul McNulty Resigns

Carol Lam issued a warrant to search the home of Kyle Dustin "Dusty" Foggo on May 9th 2006. He is an ex-CIA official who is linked to the Duck Cunningham scandal. Kyle Sampson quickly issued this DoJ email.

"the real problem we have right now with Carol Lam that leads me to conclude that we should have someone ready to be nominated on 11/18, the day her 4-year term expires."

Sampson sent the email to the White House council on May 11th. The two Justice Department officials Lam informed about the warrant are Alberto Gonzales and Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty. The latter is now resigning for family reasons.

"The financial realities of college-age children and two decades of public service lead me to a long overdue transition in my career," McNulty said in the letter, which did not mention the firings controversy.

McNulty was probably forced oyt for not maintaining the fantasy-based narrative.

On Feb. 6, McNulty told a Senate panel that at least one of the ousted prosecutors was asked to leave without cause — Bud Cummins in Little Rock, Ark., who was told to resign so that Tim Griffin, a former aide to Rove and the Republican National Committee, could take his place.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers responds to McNulty's resignation.

“Mr. McNulty’s resignation is a sign that top level administration at the Justice Department may be crumbling under the pressure of ongoing revelations, and what is yet to be disclosed. With this news and as we press on with our investigation, we look forward to his cooperation.”

I smell another immunity deal.

Gonzales Testimony

Alberto Gonzales had a month to prepare and he still lies badly to the Senate. Both Carol Lam and former AG Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson have publicly testified that her handling of immigration was never brought up.

Gonzales first said that the Justice Department contacted Lam. Later, Gonzales said that members of Congress contacted her.

Chuck Schumer asked that is it standard procedure to have members of Congress speak to U.S. Attorneys when the Justice Department has performance problems.



Gonzales gets hammered more.

Dan Dzwilewski Retires

Dan Dzwilewski was in charge of the San Diego FBI division. He defended U.S. Attorney Carol Lam when she was forced to resign.

“I don't think it's the right way to treat anybody. What's the decision based on?” Dzwilewski said. “I don't share the view of whoever's making the decision back there in Washington that they'd like her to resign. I feel Carol has an excellent reputation and has done an excellent job given her limited resources.”

Dzwilewski correctly pointed out why Lam was fired.

As for the reason for any pressure to resign, Dzwilewski said: “I can't speak for what's behind all that, what's the driving force behind this or the rationale. I guarantee politics is involved.”

Kyle Sampson complained to the FBI about those very comments.

Feinstein: Did you call FBI headquarters and complain about those comments?

Sampson: I did.

John Pistole, an FBI underling of Director Robert Mueller told Dzwilewski the comments were inappropriate.

Dan Dzwilewski has suddenly decided to retire. The FBI refused to comment on if Dzwilewski was forced to retire.

DOJ Wanted To Make Republicans Happy On Immigration

There have been news articles that the Justice Department wasn't happy with Carol Lam's handling of illegal immigration. An email from Michael Elston to Lee Otis tells the tale the DOJ concerned about making Republicans happy on immigration.

The report was provided by to the AP by the office of Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has accused the chief federal prosecutor in San Diego of being lax on smuggling cases. Issa's office said it was a Border Patrol report written last August. It was unclear who wrote it.

There is more.

The Justice Department declined to comment. However, at a congressional hearing last month, Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., told Attorney General Alberto Gonzales that Lam's record on immigration smuggling was ''a pathetic failure.'' Gonzales replied that he was urging U.S. attorneys to more actively enforce laws but noted that immigration cases were '' a tremendous strain and burden'' along the border.

What's interesting is Lam received glowing reviews from the DOJ for her handling on immigration. The GOP really wanted to please their xenophobic base. To bad for them it drove others to the Democrats during the midterm elections.

Carol Lam Firing

The Justice Department scandal just gets more disgusting.

WASHINGTON - Fired San Diego U.S. attorney Carol Lam notified the Justice Department that she intended to execute search warrants on a high-ranking CIA official as part of a corruption probe the day before a Justice Department official sent an e-mail that said Lam needed to be fired, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Sunday.

The search warrant was intended for Kyle Dustin "Dusty" Foggo. He was indicted for his involvement in the Randy "Duke" Cunningham bribery scandal.

Kyle Sampson (no surprise) sent the email on dismissing Lam.

"the real problem we have right now with Carol Lam that leads me to conclude that we should have someone ready to be nominated on 11/18, the day her 4-year term expires."

Sampson is refusing to comment on the email. Through his lawyer, no less.

Who did know that Lam was going to search Foggo's residence was Alberto Gonzales and Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty. Cases of that sensitive of a nature demand that the Attorney General know. Lam sent a report at 10:16 a.m. on May 10. The question is did Gonzales tell his right hand man Sampson?

Update: John Conyers has scheduled a vote on subpoenas. That means it is highly likely Karl Rove, Scott Jennings, Harriet Miers and William Kelley will have to testify.