Congress may probe David Addington’s lawyerly ‘professional expertise’
Pull up a chair — you may need it. David Addington, Dick Cheney’s Chief of Staff, has indicated he might testify before the House Judiciary Committee.
Anyone familiar with Cheney’s Cheney, a commonly used reference to Addington, will know that Addingtion even acknowledging the Congress exists is completely out of character for the notorious Chief of Staff to the Veep.
Kathryn Wheelburger (Cheney’s counsel) wrote a letter, on behalf of Addington, to Chairman John Conyers indicating Addington might appear before the Committee’s hearing on torture, provided the Committee agreed, in advance, to ask questions “substantially narrower in scope” than those set forth in Conyers’ initial request.
Conyers scheduled the hearing after ABC News ran a story on April 9 about the White House “Enhanced Interrogation” program, which involved top Bush administration officials including Cheney. Although Wheelburger indicated Addington would consider appearing, it is doubtful Addington will offer anything substantive based on the prerequisites Wheelburger specified.
Addington will not answer any questions related to any communications between Addington, Cheney, and Bush; presidential powers; torture policies; Cheney’s “Senate functions;” or detainees. In addition, Addington may invoke executive privilege at his pleasure.
So, the question is, what can Addington talk about? He can "share" his "professional expertise" as an attorney.
Wheelburger wrote that if the committee “still wishes to pursue its request” and accepts the White House’s conditions, Addington will as a “matter of comity” accept the “timely service” of a subpoena. As repugnant and arrogant as that may be, it seems to pale in light of where Addington’s allegiance resides, which is not the people, as evidenced in Wheelburger’s closing statement:
We hope and expect that the Committee will recognize the importance of protecting the institution of the Vice Presidency under the Constitution, so that present and future Vice Presidents can continue to serve America effectively.
Indeed. The Unitary Executive must be protected above all else.
0 Responses to “Congress may probe David Addington’s lawyerly ‘professional expertise’”