Conyers Comments on Mukasey's Unwillingness to Prosecute

Recently, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey publicly said that he would not be criminally prosecuting Justice Department employees (and ex-employees) over the reportedly illegal hiring practices, because Mukasey thinks that the violations were not criminal. I've no idea whether Mukasey is right, but the proclamation seems a bit premature given that investigations are still ongoing.

Yesterday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers responded to Mukasey's public statement.  I got the press release via email, and it's not yet up at the Committee's website, so I can't link to it.  I did, however, copy and paste Conyers' response below:

"I am distressed that Attorney General Mukasey has been so quick to determine that no criminal offense has been committed in connection with the illegal hiring practices at the Department of Justice.  The Inspector General’s investigation sets forth ample basis to conclude that there was a concerted effort to violate the civil rights of applicants their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association.

"Further, the Inspector General’s Report suggests that some individuals were less than candid with the investigators, which, if such conduct were proven, could constitute the obstruction of justice or the obstruction of an Inspector General’s investigation.  Finally, the Inspector General’s Report also makes it abundantly clear that numerous witnesses refused to be interviewed by the Inspector General and his staff, so the factual investigation remains incomplete.  Those individuals who refused to be interviewed would likely find it difficult to ignore grand jury subpoenas.

"It is not enough for Mr. Mukasey to assert that things are different under his watch.  The Department of Justice cannot reestablish its credibility so long as it persists in a strategy designed to avoid revealing all the facts that have so compromised the integrity of the Department of Justice and to prevent real accountability for misconduct by former DOJ officials."

Comments

[Henry]

You know , I really thought the rule of Law meant something at least eventually . This adminstration has an unbelievable disregard for the Law as it is written .
Won't anyone call these SOB's the criminals that they are and then Prosecute ???
w3ski

[Deb Cupples]

Henry,

time'll tell. ;)