Telling Harriet Meirs and Sara Taylor not to testify is an apparent felony, according to a TPM reader:
Invoking a privilege is one thing, but telling a person not to show up in response to a subpoena — if only to actually invoke the privilege — is quite another. It’s not just worse, it’s a felony under federal criminal law. See for yourself.
18 U.S.C. Sec. 1505 : … Whoever corruptly … influences, obstructs, or impedes … the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress … [s]hall be fined under this title, [or] imprisoned not more than 5 years … or both.
18 U.S.C. Sec. 1515(b): As used in section 1505, the term “corruptly” means acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another, including … withholding, [or] concealing … information.
So at what point does felonious behavior rise to the level of high crimes and misdemeanors?
Bush will be in big trouble when the media reports this.
Oh yeah, I forgot.
Lis,
The Consitiution only mentions “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” is says nothing about Felonies. At least that’s probably what Dickhead Cheney would say.
wow
something to bring up at the Bastille Day Impeachment Party Blogswarm
http://www.crablaw.com/2007/07/bastille-day-impeachment-party.html