Cheney Indicted!

[CountArach]

This makes me so happy!

From Crooks and Liars

Not much info in the piece because the information is not public yet, but a DA has indicted Cheney and Alberto Gonzalez and a few others on charges that are related to corruption in the private prison system following an inmate's death. And not surprisingly, there's some profiteering involved.

I'm sure Cheney will try to have it thrown out of court.

From the Brownsville Herald:

The indictment accuses Cheney and Gonzales of engaging in organized criminal activity. It criticizes Cheney's investment in the Vanguard Group, which holds interests in the private prison companies running the federal detention centers. It accuses Cheney of a conflict of interest and "at least misdemeanor assaults" on detainees by working through the prison companies.

Gonzales is accused of using his position while in office to stop an investigation into abuses at the federal detention centers.

Another indictment charges state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. with profiting from his public office by accepting honoraria from prison management companies.

I'm elated this is happening, but on the other hand I know he will find a way out of it...

[Banquo's Ghost]

Isn't that rather like getting Al Capone on tax evasion?

[CountArach]

Isn't that rather like getting Al Capone on tax evasion?

Yeah, but at least they got him

[Hooahguy]

dont beleive it will get through, but like the many pardons clinton gave to his crook friends before he left, bush will do the same.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

dont beleive it will get through, but like the many pardons clinton gave to his crook friends before he left, bush will do the same.

I'm afraid that is so. Unless of course, they can drag the trial out until AFTER he leaves office.

[Martok]

Unless of course, they can drag the trial out until AFTER he leaves office.

I would guess that's precisely why the prosecutor waited until now to indict....

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Isn't that rather like getting Al Capone on tax evasion?

You call this justice!?!

[Crazed Rabbit]

This makes me so happy!

From Crooks and Liars

From the Brownsville Herald:

I'm elated this is happening, but on the other hand I know he will find a way out of it...

What a load of bull excrement. My dad's got money in Vanguard - are they going to charge him?

This seems to be the worst example of extreme partisanship, trying to use the legal system as a cudgel against somebody you don't like for completely frivolous reasons.

You even care about that; all you see is someone attacking someone you hate and you cheer them on. This is an example of partisan dogfighting that only hurts our country.

CR

[CountArach]

This seems to be the worst example of extreme partisanship, trying to use the legal system as a cudgel against somebody you don't like for completely frivolous reasons.

Right because the legal system so wasn't broken before

You even care about that; all you see is someone attacking someone you hate and you cheer them on. This is an example of partisan dogfighting that only hurts your country.

CR

Close - one letter off.

[PBI]

I don't quite understand this system of Presidential Pardons; so if the President's friend commits murder, the President has the power to overrule the courts and pardon him?

Doesn't this smack just a little bit of the Feudal system whereby the King would turn a blind eye to what his barons did, but the average peasant could expect to be hanged for the same crimes? I thought everyone was supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I think the president should lose the power to pardon people a week before the election. There should be a chance for repercussions...

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

I don't quite understand this system of Presidential Pardons; so if the President's friend commits murder, the President has the power to overrule the courts and pardon him?

Doesn't this smack just a little bit of the Feudal system whereby the King would turn a blind eye to what his barons did, but the average peasant could expect to be hanged for the same crimes? I thought everyone was supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law?

Technically he can pardon anyone, not just barons. Occasionally, a peasant with political connections can dodge a hanging, too.

[Strike For The South]

LOL@ The Brownsville Herald.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I don't quite understand this system of Presidential Pardons; so if the President's friend commits murder, the President has the power to overrule the courts and pardon him?

Doesn't this smack just a little bit of the Feudal system whereby the King would turn a blind eye to what his barons did, but the average peasant could expect to be hanged for the same crimes? I thought everyone was supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law?

Its antecedent was the "King's Justice" idea of pardon that existed in British common law.

The President is constitutionally authorized the "Power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment."

So, the phrasing suggests the President may not pardon someone for future offenses (not too restrictive).

It prevents the President from pardoning someone who is being impeached (but not from granting a reprieve or pardon from civil prosecution/tort following the conclusion of their removal from office).

The President is also restricted from pardoning someone for crimes committed against or in another country (no big surprise there).

Pardons have been issued under blanket conditions for any and all offenses committed between a certain set of dates; to prevent presidential associates from facing jail; and to react to the results of historical revisionism. Presidents are deemed to have the power to pardon not just federal crimes and concerns, but to pardon any offense committed against any ONE of the states (hence all crimes) and not just the collective.

So, yes, the President could. Dick Cheney could whip out a quail gun and kill President elect Obama at 11:58 EST on 20 January 2009, hand Bush43 a pre-prepared Pardon memorandum, and as long as Bush got his signature on the memo sometime in the next 90 seconds, Cheney could walk off the dais a free man. They'd both be lynched, of course (and with justice if no mercy), but the President's power to pardon does extend so far.

Historically, there have been a few abuses of the pardon power, but surprisingly few given the scope of this tool. Presidents generally set a pretty high value on the "opinion of history," and don't like to do things that are too partisan or abusive with this power.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

So, yes, the President could. Dick Cheney could whip out a quail gun and kill President elect Obama at 11:58 EST on 20 January 2009, hand Bush43 a pre-prepared Pardon memorandum, and as long as Bush got his signature on the memo sometime in the next 90 seconds, Cheney could walk off the dais a free man. They'd both be lynched, of course (and with justice if no mercy), but the President's power to pardon does extend so far.

Tosa should probably monitor against the whitehouse IP showing up in the next couple weeks...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Right because the legal system so wasn't broken before

Oh, surely not the two-wrongs make a right argument. The solution to a broken system is definitely not to continue breaking it.

CR

[Crazed Rabbit]

The indictments have been dismissed by the judge:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MN0514FPHH.DTL

A judge dismissed indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Monday and told the south Texas prosecutor who brought the case to exercise caution as his term in office ends.

Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra had accused Cheney and the other defendants of responsibility for prisoner abuse. The judge's order ended two weeks of sometimes-bizarre court proceedings.

Guerra is leaving office at the end of the month after being soundly defeated in the March primary election.

"I suggest on behalf of the law that you not present any cases to the grand jury involving these defendants," Administrative Judge Manuel Banales said in court while ruling that eight indictments against Cheney, Gonzales and others were invalid.

CR

[Vladimir]

Shocking!