New stirrings over at Donklephant, re the possibility of AG Gonzales interfering in an investigation of the NSA eavesdropping:
The National Journal, citing government records and anonymous officials, says Gonzales advised Bush to shut down a Justice Department probe into the NSA eavesdropping program — even after learning that he would likely be a subject of the inquiry (here’s what I wrote about it back in May, when the probe was killed).Another taint for Gonzales. Should this blow up into another scandal and Gonzales is held accountable, then an additional leg will be kicked out from under the chair supporting the decisions made based on his counsel on topics like detainees, unlawful combatants and those "quaint" clauses in the Geneva Conventions. Of course that may not happen if Bush invokes attorney/client privilege - since Gonzales was WH counsel at the time - or uses the old chestnut of executive privilege.The tactic used to block the probe — denying security clearances to the investigators
involved — was unusual to begin with. Now add in the spectre of Gonzales the AG urging Bush to derail an inquiry that would have looked into the actions of Gonzales the White House counsel.
But the evidence is mounting, so Gonzales should be wary of offers to go fishing with Al Neri.
Update: This recent stuff reminds of another Attorney General who approved suppression of civil liberties, indefinite detention, and wiretap without court order: John Mitchell, Nixon's AG, convicted of conspiracy, perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Watergate break-in and coverup.