Why Isn't Harriet Miers in Jail?

Posted by Guest Blogger at 4:40 AM on July 20, 2007.

This post, written by Jane Hamsher, originally appeared on FireDogLake

The dismissal of the Wilson's suit was a big drag. In his judgment, Judge Bates acknowledges that "the merits of plaintiffs' claims pose important questions relating to the propriety of actions undertaken by our highest government officials." Marcy says:

All of which is a 40-page way of saying what Cheney and Libby and Rove and Armitage did was wrong. But a civil suit is not the appropriate venue to address that wrong. And with Bush's self-serving commutation of Libby's sentence, the criminal courts have been foreclosed as the means to address that wrong, too.

Which leaves Congress. There is abundant evidence already in the public record showing top members of the Administration-including Bush himself-abused their positions of power to rebut Joe Wilson. Some of those actions-including the commutation itself, since it removed Bush from criminal liability for his actions-fit well within the purview of Congress.

It's time to step up, Congress. That crappy hearing last week did much to polarize the two parties. But did little to address the evidence before us, pertaining directly to Bush's potential move to declassify a CIA spy's identity for political retaliation. Two judges who have reviewed the facts agree the actions were wrong. What is Congress going to do about it?

It is hard to imagine that Terry Schaivo could move Congress to such theatrical feats of midnight dramaturgy yet they can't be bothered to do anything about this. Or the war. Everyone has their priorities, I guess.

Meanwhile, John Conyers gives Josh Bolton until 10am on Monday to comply with his subpoenas, which "could result in contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. §§ 192, 194 or under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives."

Which raises the question -- why isn't Harriet Miers in jail?

Tagged as: congress, bush, wilson, conyers, miers

Jane Hamsher is is the founder of Firedoglake.com. Her work has also appeared on the Huffington Post, Alternet and The American Prospect.