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Davis: Phone Records Support GOP Lawyer's Story on Siegelman Case
Many Democratic members deferred their time to Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) during today's Judiciary Committee hearing on allegations of political prosecutions so that he could dig into the case of ex-Gov. Don Siegelman (D-AL).
Davis, who is convinced that the system worked against Siegelman for political reasons, took a stand for Republican lawyer Dana Jill Simpson this afternoon, responding to Rep. Randy Forbes' (R-VA) assertion that the Department of Justice should investigate her. Davis argued that there is no evidence directly disproving testimony Simpson gave House investigators.
In fact, Davis points out, Simpson offered evidence that undermines the three affidavits Forbes produced this morning. In her original affidavit and in testimony to House investigators, Simpson claimed that she was on a call in 2002 where a local Republican operative, Bill Canary, said Rove had been in touch with the Justice Department about a Siegelman investigation. The three sworn statements from men who Simpson says were also on that call, the son of Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL), Riley's 2002 campaign lawyer and an Alabama Republican, Terry Butts, all claim that the call never happened. But Davis pointed to the phone record (available here) Simspon gave House investigators showing she had made an 11-minute call to Riley's law offices on the day she claims.
Six months ago, Davis said towards the end of the hearing, he had faith in the justice system. But following the revelations of the U.S. attorney scandal and those from the Siegelman case, he said he's no longer so sure politics didn't come to play an important role in prosecutorial decisions under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
"I cannot sit here today and say to to you that I have confidence that the system worked in a fair and just manner in this case," Davis said.
Comments (19)
Jake D. wrote on October 23, 2007 3:39 PM:Well, it's nice to see some Democrats "defending" select Republicans -- wouldn't an investigation, though, be exactly what could uncover said evidence refuting Simpson's testimony -- with friends like Davis, who needs enemies?
theswan wrote on October 23, 2007 3:51 PM:It's time that subpoenas are enforced for Alberto, Harriet, and other cronies at Justice (if you can call it that).
TheraP wrote on October 23, 2007 3:54 PM:what theswan said
Greg wrote on October 23, 2007 4:07 PM:Think you misread the story, Jake. Simpson is the one saying Rove intervened. She's a whistleblower.
David in NY wrote on October 23, 2007 4:24 PM:Jake just wants to distract. The interesting thing is this. Riley's son, his lawyer and Butts say the call didn't happen, but they've got a clear motive to lie. The lawyer Simpson says it did happen, a phone record supports her, and she has absolutely no motive to make stuff up. So the Republicans want to investigate Simpson? Puh-leeze!
lambert strether wrote on October 23, 2007 4:24 PM:Simpson is the one whose house burned down and whose car got totaled after she blew the whistle on Rove, so give her credit. Sure, there are very, very few honest Republicans, but there are some, and we need to get their backs, not trash them.
Also, it's encouraging that members gave Davis time to put together a real line of questioning. When they do that, they all look good. More like this, please.
GTFOOH wrote on October 23, 2007 4:41 PM:Jake D....Obviously stands for dumb!
Jake D. wrote on October 23, 2007 4:47 PM:Ouch, GTFOOH, that hurts -- my last name is Dort -- what's your real name?
JMOHR wrote on October 23, 2007 4:58 PM:What more do you expect? This seems to be the logical extension of the current Republican party creed: Winning is Everything and Win at All Costs. Any tactic has become acceptable. Like any criminal organization, squealers will be killed.
YES - WHAT IS THE MOTIVE FOR SIMPSON TO LIE. WE HAVE SEEN HOW GOP WILL PUBLICIZE ANY SHRED OF A POSSIBLE MOTIVE, AS IN PLAME'S CASE PLACING NATIONAL SECURITY AT RISK. HERE WE HEAR NOTHING.
Jane wrote on October 23, 2007 5:06 PM:So are other phone records available?
Bloix wrote on October 23, 2007 5:45 PM:Lawyers keep time records. Congress should subpoena the time sheets for all four.
SeeDee wrote on October 23, 2007 5:57 PM:Jake D's last name??? Who cares?...Dumb, Duh?, Dirt?, Dort?
Everything he posts is distorted, deficient in logic, and downright dumb...but when one sees the first line, "Jake D wrote..." the scroll knob is handy.
On the issue at hand, I have an idea that we are just beginning to turn over the very thin stones covering the massive corruption that is now called the Department of Justice dueing Bush's presidency.
Anonymous wrote on October 23, 2007 6:22 PM:Jake D seems to feel superiority posting under "his own name" instead of anonymously. The 'full disclosure' of his being does not take away the idiocy of his commentary.
Jake D Troll wrote on October 23, 2007 7:24 PM:Is this the blog where I use my real name in comments?
mari wrote on October 24, 2007 1:36 AM:It is amazing that all this has to be discussed at all. I have been forced to face up to the dishonesty of my party and part ways. The Republican Party has become so corrupt that it is impossible for honest God-fearing people to tolerate any association with it. Never in all my 74 years have I had to confront Republican sexual crimes, malfeasance, corruption and hate mongering on the level we see now. The party has stooped to this illegal, immoral behavior at high speed since 2000. All that and this senseless war that is only being paid for by the blood of our military. This administration insists of deploying, then redeploying and redeploying our military to Iraq all the while reducing taxes on us all. You can see it will take years and years to recover from this disgusting administration and their self-centered prosecution of this war.
jakeljerkyee wrote on October 24, 2007 2:23 AM:Jake D is a self jerking Teenage Republican Wannabe.
Not a pot to pizz-in.
jakeljerkyee wrote on October 24, 2007 2:23 AM:Jake D is a self jerking Teenage Republican Wannabe.
Not a pot to pizz-in.
jakeljerkyee wrote on October 24, 2007 2:24 AM:Jake D is a self jerking Teenage Republican Wannabe.
Not a pot to pizz-in.
Liz wrote on October 28, 2007 10:59 AM:Mari, don't put all the blame on the Republican Party, if the justice system in Alabama wasn't so corrupt the political parties would have never been allowed to interfer with this case. Applause to Rep. Artur Davis for taking this stand and to Dana Jill Simpson for doing the right thing in spite of great personal risk.