When we last heard from FBI Director Robert Mueller, he was indirectly explaining to the House Judiciary Committee that Alberto Gonzales was lying about the now-infamous hospital visit with John Ashcroft in 2004. During the same hearing, however, Mueller indicated that he took notes about the ordeal, because it was such an unusual incident. Naturally, this piqued some lawmakers’ interest.
Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) requested the opportunity to review Mueller’s notes, and this week, the FBI director cooperated. According to Conyers’ statement, the committee has gleaned some new details, but not enough, in part because key details were redacted.
“Director Mueller’s notes and recollections concerning the White House visit to the Attorney General’s hospital bed confirm an attempt to goad a sick and heavily medicated Ashcroft to approve the warrantless surveillance program. Particularly disconcerting is the new revelation that the White House sought Mr. Ashcroft’s authorization for the surveillance program, yet refused to let him seek the advice he needed on the program.
“Unfortunately, this heavily redacted document raises far more questions than it answers. We intend to fully investigate this incident and the underlying subject matter that evoked such widespread distress within the Department and the FBI. We will be seeking an unredacted copy of Director Mueller’s notes covering meetings before and after the hospital visit and expect to receive information from several of the individuals mentioned in the document.”
The Gavel has more, including some images from Mueller’s original notes, which make plain that Ashcroft was “feeble, barely articulate, clearly stressed” when Card and Gonzales sought to bully him into signing off on warrantless searches.
With this in mind, let’s not forget this fun exchange between Gonzales and Arlen Specter from a few weeks ago during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing:
Gonzales: Obviously, there was concern about General Ashcroft’s condition, and would not have sought, nor did we intend, to get any approval from General Ashcroft if, in fact, he wasn’t fully competent to make that decision. But General Ashcroft, there are no rules governing whether General Ashcroft can decide, “I’m feeling well enough to make this decision.”
Specter: But Attorney General Gonzales, he had already given up his authority as Attorney General. Ashcroft was no longer Attorney General.
Gonzales: And he could always reclaim that. There are no rules–
Specter: While he’s in the hospital? Under sedation? (laughter in the room)
It was, plain and simple, an effort to take advantage of “a sick and heavily-medicated Ashcroft.”
Why is it that everyone Bush knows is making a run for the exit, except the one guy who needs to resign more than anyone else?