February 19, 2010
Obama Appoints Nine Terrorist Lawyers to Justice
You've got to be kidding me.
If Byron York is correct, the CIA needs to start flying Reapers over Eric Holder's terrorist advocate-filled Justice Department:
Attorney General Eric Holder says nine Obama appointees in the Justice Department have represented or advocated for terrorist detainees before joining the Justice Department. But he does not reveal any names beyond the two officials whose work has already been publicly reported. And all the lawyers, according to Holder, are eligible to work on general detainee matters, even if there are specific parts of some cases they cannot be involved in.
At least nine Obama-appointed terrorist lawyers work in the very department that is supposed to be trying to put them away behind bars. This strikes me as a conflict of interest whether or not these appointees recuse themselves from cases involving their (hopefully former) clients.
Honestly, what the hell is wrong with these people?
It is not too much to say that this is truly the greatest scandal of the Obamistration. When Barry complains of Gitmo parolees, the lack of convictions in tribunals and allegations of abuse he is refering largley to the advesarial work of Eric Holder's law firm. Holder himself maintained only the most implausible deniability. Shall we call their actions treasonous? Lynn Stewart rises to that level, upon conviction. But Holder's cronies were working within the law, to the extent we know. So okay. We are all good citizens here but even if we excuse their mendacious lawfare waged on the nation does that mean they should be admitted to PROSECUTE these same cutthroats they were just defending? Nothing more exotic than simple professional ethics should bar them. But if Obama bars the Jihadi Legal Department he will have to bar Holder as well. Can you imagine the backlash when the Second Black President sacks the First Black AG? He doesn't need that beef. Not now.
Posted by: megapotamus at February 20, 2010 11:03 AMHey! These people are just part of the ninety-nine percent of lawyers who give the others a bad name!
Posted by: Earl T at February 20, 2010 03:18 PMNot sure just how big a deal this actually is.
A lawyer specialising in real estate may sometimes represent a purchaser while at other times representing a seller - while possibly not being personally sympathetic to either client.
Much more background is needed.
John, the differences between real estate law and our dealings with jihadis should be enough to show how shallow and weak you analogy is but if they are not, google up Covington Burling and some filter like jihad or terror. These pukes are True Believers that there is no such thing as a terrorist, just misunderstood goatherders. And now they are not providing defense but are in charge of prosecutions! Yes, this is quite terrible. Yes, it is treason, plain and simple.
Posted by: megapotamus at February 21, 2010 05:02 PMDear Friends:
Don't forget that the Constitution of our country guarantees the presumption of innocence to every criminal defendant, as well as the right to a speedy and fair trial.
It is a testimony to the high regard in which we hold justice, that we are willing and able to be equanimous in dispensing it. To safeguard the impartiality of the system, we have to be extra cautious about preventing our emotions and prejudices from poisoning the quality of our legal system.
That is what makes America better than less arduously democratic societies.
If you knock down all the barriers protecting freedom and equal justice, where will you hide, yourself, when the winds of prejudice blow against you?
Posted by: Public Takeover at February 23, 2010 11:21 AM@ Public Takeover and others
You need to remember that the Gitmo Detainees are not criminal defendants. They are enemy combatants, who should be tried under the UCMJ. The rights of due process are different. When you call them criminals you marginalize what they have done.
Also Al Qaeda is not a democratic society.
Posted by: fish at February 23, 2010 06:14 PM
