Legal scholars say condoning abuse could be impeachable offense
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 400 legal scholars from across the country urged Congress Wednesday to consider impeaching President Bush and any high-level administration officials who approved the Iraqi prisoner abuses.
In a letter released by two Harvard Law School professors, scholars asked Congress to identify everyone who should be held accountable for the torture at Abu Ghraib prison, and determine what sanctions are appropriate. The sanctions, they said, could include "impeachment and removal from office of any civil officer of the United States responsible."
But Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., meeting with the professors, declined to specifically address the impeachment issue. He instead said the best way to correct the matter is to "elect John Kerry" president.
etc.
[I said earlier that I do not think the Democrats will move to impeach President Bush unless he wins the election. Looks like Kennedy just confirmed that.]
And:
excerpt:
JOHN BONIFAZ: This President has taken this nation to an illegal and unconstitutional war . President is not a king who does not have the power to take the nation to war without congress first authorizing it, first either declaring war or taking equivalent action.Congress never authorized this war, despite the myth of what congress did in October 2002 and the president never had the authority, therefore, to launch this first strike invasion against Iraq. Furthermore, beyond that trampling of the constitution, in taking this nation to illegal war, causing thousands of deaths, we now know that the president lied to the united states congress and to the American people about the reasons for taking a nation to war. Weapons of Mass Destruction, none of which have been found, alleged links to al- Qaeda, none of which have been proven true. This President and his senior advisers who took this nation into a serial war should be now be held accountable for these impeachment offenses. These are the highest of all crimes that could possibly be considered as an impeachable offense and the charge should be made. There is no immunity even in an election year to presidents being charged with impeachable offenses if they have committed them. This president should be charged with having taken this nation to illegal war and having violated the oath of office in the constitution and deserving impeachment.
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - More than 400 legal scholars from across the country urged Congress Wednesday to consider impeaching President Bush and any high-level administration officials who approved the Iraqi prisoner abuses.
In a letter released by two Harvard Law School professors, scholars asked Congress to identify everyone who should be held accountable for the torture at Abu Ghraib prison, and determine what sanctions are appropriate. The sanctions, they said, could include "impeachment and removal from office of any civil officer of the United States responsible."
But Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., meeting with the professors, declined to specifically address the impeachment issue. He instead said the best way to correct the matter is to "elect John Kerry" president.
etc.
[I said earlier that I do not think the Democrats will move to impeach President Bush unless he wins the election. Looks like Kennedy just confirmed that.]
And:
excerpt:
JOHN BONIFAZ: This President has taken this nation to an illegal and unconstitutional war . President is not a king who does not have the power to take the nation to war without congress first authorizing it, first either declaring war or taking equivalent action.Congress never authorized this war, despite the myth of what congress did in October 2002 and the president never had the authority, therefore, to launch this first strike invasion against Iraq. Furthermore, beyond that trampling of the constitution, in taking this nation to illegal war, causing thousands of deaths, we now know that the president lied to the united states congress and to the American people about the reasons for taking a nation to war. Weapons of Mass Destruction, none of which have been found, alleged links to al- Qaeda, none of which have been proven true. This President and his senior advisers who took this nation into a serial war should be now be held accountable for these impeachment offenses. These are the highest of all crimes that could possibly be considered as an impeachable offense and the charge should be made. There is no immunity even in an election year to presidents being charged with impeachable offenses if they have committed them. This president should be charged with having taken this nation to illegal war and having violated the oath of office in the constitution and deserving impeachment.