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July 03, 2007
Political Theater
Congress is going to hold hearings on an issue it can do absolutely nothing about.
"In light of yesterday's announcement by the President that he was commuting the prison sentence for Scooter Libby, it is imperative that Congress look into presidential authority to grant clemency, and how such power may be abused," John Conyers said. "Taken to its extreme, the use of such authority could completely circumvent the law enforcement process and prevent credible efforts to investigate wrongdoing in the executive branch."Sure, Congress can "look into" it, but to what end?
They can't do anything about it. Nothing. Nada. Nichevo. The power of the president "to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States" is absolute. Conyers can hold all the hearings he wants, say anything he wants and mug for the camera, but it won't make a bit of difference - there's nothing the courts or the Congress can do.
Surely John Conyers knows this, so one has to wonder why he's insisting on these hearings at all.
It's a mystery, really.
Posted by slublog at July 3, 2007 08:45 PM
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