Congressman Wexler Renews Call For Bush-Cheney
Impeachment
California Congressman Robert
Wexler has not given up on his campaign to launch impeachment hearings for both President George W. Bush and Vice-President
Dick Cheney. We received the following letter in today’s mail:
Two weeks ago, the House
took a bold step demanding accountability for the Bush/Cheney Administration by holding former White House Council Harriet
Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten in Contempt of Congress for blatantly ignoring congressional subpoenas for
over 8 months.
Though it was not a surprise, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, wrote a letter to the House of Representatives
stating that he refuses to call a Grand Jury to enforce those contempt citations.
The
Attorney General's letter, effectively claiming that members of the executive branch are immune from congressional subpoenas,
calls for quick action.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Judiciary Chairman Conyers have smartly decided
to pursue a civil lawsuit to force Bolton and Miers to appear before Congress. We should pursue a lawsuit – but I think we can do
even more.
While a court may order – months from now –that Miers and Bolten must appear before Congress,
by then George Bush and Dick Cheney will have largely accomplished their goal of running out the clock on the investigation
into this Administration's politicization of the Justice Department. Even a successful outcome in federal court might only
mandate that they appear, at which time the witnesses are likely simply to continue their obfuscation by claiming executive
privilege of the 5th Amendment in person.
The House of Representatives must re-establish its legitimate rights as a
co-equal branch of government. Congress cannot allow its power to be summarily ignored and justice delayed.
The
House was correct to hold these renegade White House officials in contempt, and much credit should be given to Speaker Pelosi
and Chairman Conyers for pushing for that outcome. Now, we must go further: The House must immediately consider
taking the following actions:
- Initiating impeachment
hearings that would likely break through the reckless claims of executive privilege made by the Bush Administration.
- Approve a resolution that calls for an inherent contempt citation which would give the House Sergeant at Arms the
power to bring Miers and Bolton before Congress.
As you may know, 17 of
my colleagues, including four of my fellow members of the Judiciary Committee have joined my call for impeachment hearings.
This is not an issue between Democrats and Republicans. As members of Congress, we
have an absolute duty to enforce the checks and balances prescribed by our Constitution.
We have ceded too
much for too long, enabling George W. Bush to assume a unitary imperial Presidency. It is long past time to secure accountability
for those who have, by all appearances, committed significant breaches of our laws and trust.
Mukasey's claims are simply the latest in a long line of outlandish legal arguments ranging from the idea that
we can selectively cherry-pick from torture laws to the concept that the Vice President is no longer part of the Executive
Branch (except, of course, when he needs to claim Executive Privilege).
Over the past months, I have received tens
of thousands of emails and letters from you expressing your great support for my efforts. Your encouragement and activism
on these causes are much appreciated.
