July, 02 2009, 10:07am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jordan Libowitz,,jlibowitz@citizensforethics.org,.
In Cheney Interview Case, DOJ Argues White House Officials Won't Cooperate with Law Enforcement Investigations
Last night, in a lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington (CREW) against the Department of Justice seeking
former Vice President Cheney's FBI interview in the Valerie Plame
Wilson leak investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed
papers, including a declaration from Lanny Breuer, Assistant Attorney
General for the Criminal Division. Embracing the same
arguments made by the Bush administration for withholding the
interview, DOJ argues if it is disclosed, future high-level White House
officials will be unwilling to cooperate with criminal law enforcement
investigations.
WASHINGTON
Last night, in a lawsuit filed by Citizens for Responsibility and
Ethics in Washington (CREW) against the Department of Justice seeking
former Vice President Cheney's FBI interview in the Valerie Plame
Wilson leak investigation, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed
papers, including a declaration from Lanny Breuer, Assistant Attorney
General for the Criminal Division. Embracing the same
arguments made by the Bush administration for withholding the
interview, DOJ argues if it is disclosed, future high-level White House
officials will be unwilling to cooperate with criminal law enforcement
investigations.
According to Mr. Breuer, it is "not uncommon" for prosecutors to
inform witnesses the government will try to keep the information they
provide confidential. But Mr. Breuer ignores the fact that here Mr.
Cheney was never promised confidentiality, as Special Counsel Patrick
Fitzgerald confirmed in a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), then
Chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Mr. Breuer also argues if
Mr. Cheney's interview is made public, future high-level White House
officials will be unwilling or at least "reluctant" to cooperate in
criminal investigations. He suggests such officials will testify only
if subpoenaed, possibly "thwart[ing] investigations." Yet DOJ has
subpoenaed White House officials in the past without such repercussions.
Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director, said, "It is astonishing
that a top Department of Justice political appointee is suggesting
other high-level appointees are unlikely to cooperate with legitimate
law enforcement investigations. What is wrong with this picture?"
Read Mr. Breuer's declaration in the related Documents Section on the right.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.
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