Wednesday, May 24, 2006

SUBPOENAS? US? ARE YOU KIDDING?   [Byron York]

If House Speaker Dennis Hastert has his way, why should any member of Congress ever comply with a subpoena?  And are the members who have complied with subpoenas in the past kicking themselves for being such saps? From Roll Call, November 7, 2005:

Last week's subpoena from the Justice Department to House Administration Chairman Bob Ney (R-Ohio), seeking any documents he has relating to former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, marks the first time a Member of Congress has become formally enmeshed in the criminal probe of Abramoff…

The Justice Department, which is leading a federal task force probing Abramoff's business dealings with American Indian tribes, wants Ney to turn over any documents in his possession related to Abramoff. Ney's office declined to offer more specifics on what documents Justice is seeking, or on what time period the subpoena covers.

Normally, such subpoenas cover phone and meeting logs, letters and e-mail records. Although a federal grand jury has been seated in the Abramoff probe, Ney has not been asked to appear before that panel.

Ney said in a statement Friday that he would abide by the subpoena.

05/24 09:54 PMShare