Bush administration misconduct hearings: Liveblog Part 5

By GottaLaff

PANEL 2: Elizabeth Holtzman, Bob Barr, Rocky Anderson, Prof. Steven Presser, Bruce Fein, Vincent Bugliosi, Prof. Jeremy Rabkin, Elliot Adams (Veterans for Peace), missed the last one.

Holtzman, former Rep. D-NY (former Congresswoman, served on Nixon impeachment, only elected woman D.A. in Brooklyn, only woman ever elected as NY City comptroller): The framers developed the power of impeachment to protect the democracy. Unpleasant, but it can't be ignored. The buck stops here, in this room, in Congress, to protect against executive officials who run amok. There's no avoiding that. There are grounds for impeachment. Prima facea, and I mean that. They should be able to defend themselves. Grounds: Systematic refusal to obey the law... Take care and be faithful in the execution of the law... Substantial evidence that they repeatedly failed and refused to obey the requirements of FISA which was enacted because of Watergate... prevent abuse of wiretapping... but FISA court was not sought for approval as law required.

Next: Geneva Conventions, laws against torture... 2 of the laws make it a federal crime, death penalty if death occurs, no statute of limitations... There has been admitted waterboarding (cruel and inhuman, if not torture, against 1996 War Crimes Act). All were systematically ignored.

Next: Signing statments.

Next: Misuse of executive privilege. That was a basis for impeachment against Nixon. It was used to shield improper or illegal executive branch activity, like refusal to provide the FBI statements of Cheney's statements.

Next: Deceptions with respect to Iraq War. Subverts the Constitution. Congress plays an essential role in war making decisions. Congress was deceived, so they couldn't make a reasoned decision.

What is to be done? Congress can't shirk Constitutional responsibilities. It's late, but there are options: Impeachment Inquiry. It would send signal on the limits of presidential power and educate the public. And it would give the administration an appropriate forum in which to respond.