A grand jury in South Texas indicted U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and former attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Tuesday for "organized criminal activity" related to alleged abuse of inmates in private prisons. Full Story »
Posted by Chris Finnie
Reuters provides an interesting story here that may well gather more coverage. More specific information here would fill out the nature of the alleged crime.
A surprising story that I've not heard anything about before this. However, despite several sources, it seems light on details. Cheney probably owns stakes in many companies, all of which he placed under independent management during his term in office. So did these violations happen before that? Did he direct these illegal acts to benefit himself after he leaves office? In short, this piece raises almost as many questions as it answers.
I bet GWB had not even thought about this in his pardon preparation. The real question now is whether the Pres can pardon himself,or will he have to take a Vacation under the 26th and have Dick return the favor?
This is the kind of Hot Lead that is irresistible. Kudos to Reuters for actually obtaining a copy of the indictment, and for noting that the indictment has not yet "been seen by a judge, who could dismiss it.." From a journalistic point of view, the author(s) need to be more clear about the role of a judge in "seeing" the indictment, and in evaluating the putative merit of the case against the high profile targets, Cheney and Gonzales. Journalistically, it is important to "consider the source," and Reuters should tell its readers more about county DA Guerra, who has a controversial history.
This story is all over the Internet now, including reports by CNN and local news (Channel 5). Most of the stories were printed before the indictment itself was released to the public, and as this story reminds us, it has not yet been signed off by a judge, who could dismiss the case. There is a huge amount of interest in this story, which badly needs follow-up.
Dick Cheney is one of the most slimy politician's this country has every produced. For all his secrecy and forecasts of gloom and doom, for his having us involved in two wars with thousands dead and wounded, if they think their going to convict this bastard of prison fraud, someone smoking loco-weed. He'll get his when that damn defibrilulater quits and he's sitting on the chair in hell with his horned best friend.
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