Congressional Oversight

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Wed., May 14, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

On Friday, White House lawyers filed a motion in civil court, arguing against the House’s own filing last month in its attempt to enforce subpoenas against Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers. As I reported at the time, the White House appears to be arguing that the courts ought to stay out of the fight and let the House use other means of leverage to get the information it seeks from the executive branch.

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Fri., Mar 7, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Wed., Mar 5, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

Paul Kiel wrote an important post yesterday spelling out what a lack of immunity might conceivably mean for the telecommunications companies that helped the government spy on Americans.

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Wed., Mar 5, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

New questions have arisen about what, exactly, the government hopes to surveil. On Monday, Kenneth Wainstein, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security spelled it out:

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Thu., Feb 28, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

Today House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a major step forward on contempt. In a letter to Jeffrey Taylor, the U.S. Attorney for the Distrect of Columbia, Pelosi certified the subpoena breeches by Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten:

by Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium: Wed., Jan 23, 2008
Filed under: Congressional Oversight

By Brian Beutler, The Media Consortium, Oct. 24, 2007

Last week’s revelation that Verizon readily opened phone logs to the feds should come as no surprise. The firm is a standout example of the revolving door between government and telecom.