Mukasey: Increased Disclosure Is Unconstitutional
Steve Aftergood at Secrecy News reports on a weird episode: Attorney General Michael Mukasey reacted pretty strongly to a bill sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold
Jul 31, 202070.5K Shares2.6M Views
Steve Aftergood at Secrecy News reports on a weird episode: Attorney General Michael Mukasey reacted pretty strongly to a bill sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) that would compel congressional notification of opinions by the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel that conclude the executive branch isn’t bound by certain laws. Obviously, the rationale for such a bill is to avoid Bush-esque circumstances where OLC decides that an administration can do whatever the hell it wants and Congress doesn’t find out until years later. Here’s what Mukasey had to say about that, in Aftergood’s words:
“„The bill is unconstitutional because it improperly seeks to mandate the timing and extent of disclosure of classified information, and because it infringes on the constitutional doctrine of executive privilege, he said.
“„The legislation would require that Congress be notified of “many legal opinions” that fall within its terms, the Attorney General wrote. And it would mistakenly lead legal advisers to tailor their advice in such a way as not to trigger the reporting requirements of the Act, he warned.
OH NOES NOTIFICATION: The episode provides a glimpse into the collective mind of the Bush administration: Mukasey assumes that lawyers will just try to flout the law. Interestingly, one of the bill’s proponents is … Dawn Johnsen, whom President-electBarack Obama tapped to become his next chief of the Office of Legal Counsel.
Dexter Cooke
Reviewer
Dexter Cooke is an economist, marketing strategist, and orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of experience crafting compelling narratives that resonate worldwide.
He holds a Journalism degree from Columbia University, an Economics background from Yale University, and a medical degree with a postdoctoral fellowship in orthopedic medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dexter’s insights into media, economics, and marketing shine through his prolific contributions to respected publications and advisory roles for influential organizations.
As an orthopedic surgeon specializing in minimally invasive knee replacement surgery and laparoscopic procedures, Dexter prioritizes patient care above all.
Outside his professional pursuits, Dexter enjoys collecting vintage watches, studying ancient civilizations, learning about astronomy, and participating in charity runs.
Latest Articles
Popular Articles