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Testimony is set to begin at 2:30 pm ET in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Witnesses today will be Bradley J. Schlozman, Associate Counsel to the Director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Former Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice and Todd Graves, Former U.S. Attorney, Western District of Missouri. Should be some interesting testimony today.
Emptywheel called me a few minutes ago. She and Tiredfed are going to be able to attend the hearing. C-Span3 will be covering the proceedings live, according to their scheduling information. I'm not going to do detailed liveblogging of the proceedings, but will be watching along for notable moments and will pick those out for everyone and put them up as they come along until I have to go and pick up The Peanut from preschool.
Please feel free to point out what you are hearing in the comments as well.
Hearing begins app. 2:34 pm ET.
SEN. LEAHY begins with a statement regarding the WH's stalling tactics in giving information anf cooperating with the investigations of Congress. That if Pres. Bush wants to complain about delay in this concluding, he need only look to himself and his employees for the reason why.
Asks whether "voter fraud" and the willingness to pursue cases as a means of proving loyalty to the White House may have played a part in Graves' firing and Schlotzman's hiring. Says that it is the Department of Justice for the whole of the US, and not just for the White House.
2:41 pm ET
SCHLOZMAN doing his opening statement now. Talking up his amazing tenure stats in his few months in the USA seat. [CHS NOTES: Any PR is good PR theory of testimony.]
NOTE: Sorry gang -- my computer crashed and I had a bit of trouble getting it restarted. Am going to begin a new thread.
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gabbly!
Walton! (Good idea from below, I thought. Now to read the thread.)
Zedilicious!
Leahy and Schumer talking to each other…no sound
I’m an attorney but civil, not criminal. I know some of you criminal types hang out on this board so care to take a whack at this question:
Simple yet infuriating question: did Libby get a long or short sentence? This poster seems to articulate that he actually caught quite a break but the MSM spin is he got a heavy sentence. What is the answer?
http://time-blog.com/swampland.....tence.html
“And so Libby’s sentence, which will certainly be appealed, is on the high end of the guidelines: 30 months, 250,000 in fines, and 2 years probation after jail.”
ana, you either weren’t paying attention, or you have no idea what the hell you are talking about.
30 months is at the LOW end of the applicable guidelines for Libby (which were 30-37 months). Jeffries argument that “cross-referencing” (which results in higher sentences) to the severity of the crime being investigated should not apply — those arguments were rejected as they should have been, resulting in the range cited above as the “guidelines” range.
Walton weighed the issue of whether the non-mandatory guidelines should be followed, noted that there were argument for sentences higher than and lower than the guidelines, and that those arguments “balanced out” and thus the guidelines were appropriate to follow.
He then sentenced Libby to the SHORTEST sentence under the applicable guidelines for obstruction of just, and provided that the sentences for the other convictions (whose guidelines had shorter sentences) be served concurrently, rather than consecutively.
In reality, had Walton imposed the maximum sentence under the guidelines, Libby would have been sentenced to 97 months (37 for the obstruction count, 20. IIRC, for each of the others) served consecutively.
{{{{EW}}}} {{{{Tired Fed}}}}
{{{{tired but kind & diligent MODS}}}}
No CSPAN 3. ;(
Leahy opening hearing. “A lot of stonewalling byuy this admin. Failures of memory by AG and others. President complaining about hearings being drug out - needs to look at his own people for this problem…
Leahy - they keep delaying us, thinking that we’ll forget about this matter. We won’t.
Drat. Don’t get CSpan3…
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One dozen, two dozen, even three dozen attys selected for firing. Only press accounts have reported these firings.
Only in the last couple of weeks learned about politcal targetting of attys and firings.
Monica Goodling had to admit that she crossed the line in engaging in this conduct. Who else knew or dircted this conduct? These are all quesitons we need to know. Will be contacting DoJ IG on this topic including apparent attempts to influence Ms Goodling testimony
Bad day for the Goopers.
;)
Loo Hoo. @ 7
in addition to c-span3… also by SJC webcast and c-span radio
WH can’t have it both ways by stonewalling and witholding documents and witnesses and complain the investigation is taking too long.
Every week brings new revelation on erosion of indenpendence of prosecutors. Obligation is to the constitution rule of law not the political considerations of admin
EW liveblogs the sentencing hearing, then races over, ignoring the vision of a nice tall frosty IPA in her head, and attends the SJC hearing. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear she types 120 words a minute, writes elegant code, and can accurately predict the DOW within 5% over any given month. Whew!
Loo Hoo. @ 7
LooHoo, it does seem to be up & running now, sound & picture. Use link above. Click on tv schedules, then CSpan 3, then logo of system you wish for coverage… ;->
Witness sworn in (Schlozman).
Leahy running down CV and job history.
Oh chipmunk voice!!!
Can you say, “Pixie”?
Oh jeez, Schlozweasel has a helium voice!
CHIPMUNK !!
Wow…hate his voice!!!! it does not match his looks
OMFG
LMAO
He sounds like he just swallowed a helium balloon!
That voice - Am I on acid?
we all agree with this voice over dude
OMG, he sounds like a mini-GOnzales. Not sure I can listen to all this.
Why do all these Bushie AG Creeps have such annoying voices?
TR @ 10
We don’t get CSpan 3 thru tv, but thru computer.
Try what i suggested to Loo Hoo above at 17.
You can open 2 windows, resize them to fit side by side, keep C-Span on one, FDL on the other. ;->
cc in nc @ 27
I agree
Oh. My. God.
I know this is supposed to be serious, but I can’t stop giggling.
Schlozman sounds *just* like Alvin Chipmunk!
munchkin voice - jeez - blowing his own horn doesn’t sound so impressive with a voice like that. He’s very proud of his service - take this clown down
Bye folks. I can NOT deal with that voice. This is NOT a good thing and brava and huzzahs to those with the wherewithall to undergo the torture…
Any and all volunteers appreciated to help live blog. Jump in with phrases and summaries. Try it, you’ll like it!
Bustednuckles @ 13
A pile-on? EXCELLENT!
dakine01 @ 33
Just stick around…dont want you to miss any high lights if any! I wonder what Leyhey is thinking!!!
Schlozman served 13 months as interim USA in Missouri, and about 3 years in the Civil Rights Division.
OleHippieChick @ 20
Richard Druyfuss as the uptight psychologist in “What About Bob?”
FGS, someone pleeze tell him to take a drink of water. but then, he’d need to pee in 30 sec…
I’m so glad that others pointed out what I thought was also very noticeable about the man in the immortal words of Seinfeld…he’s a high talker. He’s proud of his gun prosectuon and protecting kids and his civil voting rights record prosecution. Yowza…who knew getting rid of voting rights for minorities was considered a positive.
omfg!
It’s Daffy Duck!
He’s on now giving himself a glowing commendation on his tenure USA and all the things he accomplished…
He’s got a squeaky, wimpy little voice and is clearly nervous. Can’t wait until the Senators get going on him!!!
Just a lotta what a great job I did and how proud of it all I am blah, blah, blah.
This recitation is going to make the coming declarations of “I can’t recall” that much harder to believe.
Leahy: Glad to hear how spectacular you were.
why do i get the feeling that a lot of the stats he’s giving aren’t actually something to proud of?
and at least monica was somewhat attractive to put up with her voice…
no wonder he had a high ranking job…who would fire that voice! enough to make you walk!
He’s listing all his “incredible successes” of his division.
Leahy just got REAL sarcastic “I’m glad to hear how spectacular you are and your division. Makes me wonder why we’re here…
Leahy: I’m so glad to hear how spectacular you were”.
!!!
Adie, YES! Dreyfus!
Leahy - glad to hear about how spectacular you were, spectacular record. BWAH!
I’m glad to hear how spectacular you were…Leahey
707
Leahy is so glad to hear how spectacular everyone is and it makes him wonder what all the fuss is about.
Real Vermont snark.
Leahy sick of the BS.
He has ’small-voice syndrome’ obviously.
Did Leahy just open up with snark?
Way to go, Pat!
Leahy’s snarking: You sure have done a spectacular job.
Englischlehrer @ 45
really Monica - attractive?
He meant craptacular.
Leahy talking about the spectacular job that Scholzman did after listening to his opening statement. Senatorial snark!
OleHippieChick @ 20
No kidding. A friend and I were just saying that it sounds as though he just finished sucking on a helium balloon. Sounds a lot like Gonzo, doesn’t he? How creepy is that!
What’s with the wierd voices? Goodling, Gonzo and now this?
Leahey is going to eat him for lunch…ouch
realworld @ 28
Eunuchs…
Snarkalicious, Chairman!
Adie @ 29
Thanks!
First, though, I’ll have a D’Oh moment for not thinking of that…
D’OH!
He has Republican chin(s).
monica and this guy both have winny voices! a match made in HELL!
Leahy: Eve of last year’s closely contested election, you brought four criminal indictmens on eve of election. Now I read this book to say that’s not part of standing policy in book.
SCHL: No senator.
L:Is there another book I should be aware of?
(Leahy is already not buying the BS and slapping him down)
Leahy explaining the law to this twit.
Sparkles the Iguana @ 44
just luv him sometimes…. ;->
omg, even Leahy’s sigh speaks VOLUMES!
must.just.lurk! so-o-o.hard! for the mods! ooogh!
marksb @ 16
Man, no kidding - where’s the cape?
Leahy is beginning the questioning with a significant *snark*-flection.
yikes Pat is pissed….this is great! It’s about time Dems got pissed off at these lying cheating scumbags because they should be treated with nothing but contempt and disdain.
Clap…clap…bravo!
radiofreewill @ 11
I did so this morning again. Thanks to EW, Jane, Christy, commenters!! Amazing place here!
PSA - CSPAN3 Scheduling note:
Thursday June 7, 2007. 2:30 PM Eastern
Dismissal of U.S. Attorneys
Judiciary
Patrick J. Leahy , D-VT, Simon Chipmunk, Theodore Chipmunk
Bustednuckles @ 13
Let me guess, Fox News today:
CORRUPT DEM JEFFERSON!PARIS HILTON!
JFK TERROR PLOT!TEEN KIDNAPPING!
CORRUPT DEM JEFFERSON!PARIS HILTON!
JFK TERROR PLOT!TEEN KIDNAPPING!
Lather, rinse, repeat …
Woo hoo Leahy!
Ugh, I agree with commenters on Schlozzy’s voice… before looking at my screen, I thought he was a she. WTF? No wonder he’s on the bully team. I don’t know if I can bear hearing this guy.
Even the way he says “sennader” sounds like Gonzo. ARGH.
dakine01 @ 18
Oh, you hear it too. GAwD! I thought maybe it was my, um, connection, speakers, computer….
LiberalsRule @ 76
boy..his voice is very very troubling!@
Schlozman saying they got go ahead for indictments fromthe civil rights bureau honcho. He directed his dep (29 year pro).
Of course it was a DoJ wanting to screw Dems so of course go ahead…
Woodhall Hollow @ 51
I frackin’ [heart] Vermont.
kdh22 @ 62
Love my expanding vocabulary!
He must breath helium!
Leahy trying not to laugh.
Holy crap. It’s hard to hear the words being used because Donald’s voice is so…so…wow. It must be hard not to yip when one hears that voice for the first time.
I’ve got it!
Richard Dreyfus as Richard III (played as a “flaming homosexual” in “The Goodbye Girl”
Now isth the winter of our disthcontent…
hes lieing!
AZ Matt @ 83
His arsehole is puckered shut, he can’t get any air.
watch his beedie eyes, they tell a lot about his actions…he is lieing
Leahy — “You’re amazing!”
Leahy is PISS’D and not taking the BS at ALL!!!
Shlozman: thought it would have no affect on eelection.
Leahy: Amazing! Don’t you watch the news at all?
He really needs to not piss off Leahy.
Whoa. Leahy just slapped Schlozzie big time. Yow.
I did not have any recollection..did not recall..#2.
OfT
dumbya at 11:32 am
IANAL.
You might want to check past threads at The Next Hurrah. In the sentence predictions made there, no one iirc predicted anything more that 37 months.
jesus - Leahy’s got the throttle wide open!
Englischlehrer @ 45
now now, don’t be too judgemental.
just wait till he starts batting his eyelashes at the repubs on the committee.
ewwww. yeeeoouch! leahy’s dropped the scalpel & picked up the meat axe. NEXT?!
go PAT !!
Leahy: (to Schlozman)(incredulously) You’re amazing!
Schlozman: (nods head in agreement)
Wow. What an asshole.
Voice or no voice - when the recordings of this hearing come out, they are a must-listen, if only to hear Pat Leahy bat this creep around like a cat playing with a potato-bug!
Leahy shouts!
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWO…he is MADMADMAD
Gawd Leahy yelled at him! Cool!!
Jesus Christ! My cat sat up straight with that booming voice.
Holy shit! Leahy’s voice is raised!
I wish Leahy had exploded at Abu Gonzales like this….
Sen. Leahy questions
When you were an interim appointment USA in Missouri, were you familiar with the Regulation book?
S: Hemming and hawing - ‘Yes’
Then why did you bring a few select charges in a larger, on-going investigation prior to the election, against the guidelines?
S: I was covered because I spoke to a DoJ official (election crimes branch director) and he said I could do it.
And there was nothing unusual about doing this that close to the election?
S: I did not think it would have any effect on the election.
Have you ever made a remark about an on-going investigation or the timing of a law-suit before as a USA? Would it have changed the outcome if you had waited until after the election?
S: I don’t think so.
Scholzman is a partisan gunslinger who twisted and shut down appropriate investigations at the Civil Rights Division, punished those who did not agree with his right wing views, and hired attorneys on whether or not they were Republicans. His antics in Missouri are just more of the same. To call this guy slime would be an insult to slime everywhere.
Oh this guy is SO ef’fing toast.
Leahy: would it have changed the outcome of your prosecution if you had waited a few weeks for the prosecution?
Scloz: Well no
Leahy then why didn;t you wait.
not a Repub in sight…
Schloz’ airway is even MORE constricted. Higher, higher, goes Shallow Throat!
Chuckles Schumer up.
Wow. Shumer has a tough act to follow.
Leahey yelled really loud, and my computer threw me off!!!
shuman…he will drill him with professional ethics watch him closelly
Schumer: Is politicization formal or informal. Alvin: formal. I never heard anything political.
jayt @ 96
Being fueled by this a.m.’s sentence, no doubt. After-burners r us!
Does Scholzman have a fu manchu? - bad viewer
Schumer on the case now.
Leahy and Schumer digging for specific names
Sclozman has stated he did not pull a Monica on partisan creds. He will go down for that lie.
Schumer: Did you ever ‘cross the line’?
Schlozman: I did not.
Anyone else think Schlozman just committed perjury, and that Chuck knows it?
Wordsmith @ 116
Goatee and ’stache
JGabriel @ 118
what and when did he committ perjury!
RonD @ 114
I like that Alvin. Alvin just lied about not violating the Hatch Act.
jayt @ 109
fuckin’ typical
I’m not aware of that.
Does that mean, uh - No!
JGabriel @ 118
Just wait ’til Whitehouse gets a hold of this creep…
Alvin goes up an entire octave when he lies?
Schumer has something on him and is getting the lies on the record…
dakine01 @ 119
Thank you - sometimes certain shit is important to know.
dakine01 @ 119
He’s livin’ in the 90’s…his glory days
Trying to pass things off as “hearing rumors” but all from higher in DoJ
OT,
A little tech help here pups?
How do I split screens w/Firefox so I can watch and follow here?
1oldlady @ 120
CS: Did you ever let party affiliation effect a hire?
BS: No.
“I’m not aware of that”
There’s the first “I don’t recall”.
I get the feeling Shumer is setting the stage, leading Schlozzie along and then zing!
Alvin: Never asked about party, loyalty, how they voted, don’t recall policy positions, non-profit positions, no knowledge any political questions being asked, but there were rumors. I did tell people to delete info from resume’s.
About to leave for the day (out-of-town visitors requested the Malibu Getty Museum), but first another thanks, Christy, Marcy, Jane, from my cousins & myself for the stellar FDL live blogging of Libby sentencing this a.m.
We’ve been watching CSPAN3, & as we go out the door, Pat Leahy is in the process of administering to Scholzman what Mom used to call “a hide peeling”…… :-)
Did he just throw the AG under the bus?
I need to find that voice altering machine I stole from the FBI.
Off to the closet. I can’t endure this much longer.
He’s using Monica’s same “we’d get resumes for career and political positions so if it was a career, we’d ask them to modify”
Bustednuckles @ 130
try the file menu, then select New Window
Wordsmith @ 116
BWAHAHAHA! I haven’t heard the term “fu manchu” in ages! Too funny!!!
More like a soul patch under the lip and a 3-day chin growth a la Don Johnson.