Monica Goodling Testimony, Part VII
Posted in: Joe Wilson, Justice Department, Legal
Go here or here for a stream of Goodling's testimony.
Please keep extraneous comments to a minimum to lighten the load on the servers.
Wow, that was fun. Rep Davis was basically asking Goodling about all the inconsistencies in AG's testimony. Her lawyer interrupted, asking for AG's testimony. Then Dan Lundgren pulled some parliamentary procedure. The committee voted to table that, but there was no clerk to record the vote. So now we have the vote, 17-8, Lundgren's motion fails.
Clerk corrects: 17-9.
Davis (AL): Ms. Goodling, when did you first become aware that AG made public statements that were inaccurate.
MG I saw the Press conference.
Davis: Did you communicate to AG that you thought his testimony wasn't right. Did you read accounts of testimony. Did you think inaccurate.
MG Some of it is muddled.
Davis: Did you communicate to McNulty that AG's statements were not accurate.
MG That was toward the end of my time. I spoke to AG on Thursday or Friday of my last full week in the dept.
Davis: Was there anything that made you uncomfortable.
MG I could not longer work. He proceeded to stay, Let me tell you what I can remember, he laid out for me his recollection of the process of replacement of USAs. He laid out a little bit of it, he asked if I had any reaction to his iteration. I remember thinking that this was something that we all had to talk about. I didn't think it was appropriate.
Guttierez (IL): Yield to Davis.
Davis: Please finish regarding conversation with AG.
MG: There was more, but I'm having trouble remembering it.
Davis You said part of the conversation was in appropriate.
MG Unconfortable.
MG I did not know if it was appropriate for both of us to be discussing our recollections.
Davis: Why inappropriate.
MG I knew we'd have to talk about our recollections. I think in all fairness, he was just talking to someone on his staff.
Davis: Did you tell AG that his statements were not fully accurate?
MG No
MG I feel like after he had the press conference, people had already raised questions.
Davis Do you think AG appreciated that he made statements that were not accurate.
MG No. He clarified the remarks from his press conference. I think he's apologized for that.
Davis: Did AG discuss circumstances around termination.
MG A little bit, he said he thought everyone on list was peformance related reason. He thought DAG testified about Cummins, he said that he thought that was wrong. He really thought Cummins was on list for performance reason. There was more to the discussion. He laid out what he remembered then asked if I had any reaction to it.
Davis You said AG asked if he had any reaction. Did you think AG was trying to shape recollection.
MG No. I just did not know if that was a conversation we should be having. To the extent that any of your questions were about testimony, I thought they were press conferences.
Davis do you think it's important that AG give accurate responses to Congress. Would you come abck to correct testimony.
Wasserman-Schutlz: One minute to Davis.
Davis You've said that if you discovered there was something incomplete you'd come back and correct it.
MG I'm going to need to consult with counsel. I was saying that if, when I go back to review the transcript Id' want to consult.
Davis Did McNulty go back and make any attempt to correct record?
MG I don't know of any.
Davis Did he go back and correct statements in closed briefings.
MG I remember hearing Dept was going to work on questions.
W-S: Two more minutes to Davis.
Davis: You have been AUSA for a period of time. Did you prosecute cases?
MG THey all pleaded out, but I did some work.
Davis: Are you familiar with rules that govern DOJ
MG Some of them
DAvis would it be appropriate for a Senator to consult about a particular case.
MG I don't know of the rules in this area.
Davis Do you think it'd be appropriate for a Senator to call to make inquiries about info only known to the USA office. And a member of Congress.
MG I'm not an expert.
DAvis Do you know of any instance for a politician to call USA to prosecute anyone. If the person didn't have evidence, that would be inappropriate.
MG If they didn't have evidence.
Davis Was there a phone call regarding prosecution of particular cases.
MG I've seen press accounts. I don't know if the call happened. I can't address hypothetical. It raises questions.
Davis During your briefing session, did the Domeici call to Iglesias come up.
MG I don't think that
[The answer is yes, btw, it came out in the most recent Document Dump]
MG I don't remember when it was discussed in DAG's office.
Ellison (MN) Did you know Thomas Heffelfinger. Any conversations about problems with his performance.
MG Concerns that he spent too much time on NAIS.
Ellison: Was there concerns about whether or not he was allowing NA tribe memebrs to use tribal IDs to vote. Did anything about tribaal IDs come up.
MG I don't remember.
Ellison Did you receive communication from SOS Kipmeyer
Ellison did you interview Joan [didn't catch the name] Do you recall she had a solid resume, had been practicing law for 15-16 years. She didn't get the job did she?
MG I did hear she was liberal.
Ellison Was that a factor in decision to bypass her.
MG It was a factor.
Ellison You hired Paulose. 4 AUSAs have quit because she's so inadequate.
MG They didn't resign,
Ellison They quit their leadership position, is that right. And went back to line positions. You know Paulose personally. She described you as a friend. How much time has gone by since you spoke to her.
MG MArch 07. Maybe the first week of March.
Ellison did you ask Jones-Humes about religious affiliation, party affiliation, Federalist Society? You bypassed a chief of civil and hired someone who had no experience right
[Another fight breaking out--Lundgren is trying to allow MG to filibuster]
Ellison: Did Rachel Paulose's political affiliation play a role. Did her religious affiliation play a role. Federalist Society? Never tried a case with a jury have a factor?
MG She had significant experience? As I recall Rachel's experience was some civil and criminal, we did include the fact that she might be a candidate for Presidential nomination.
Short recess will return for a second round of questioning.
I'll start a new thread when we get back.
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