Casino67 Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 Politico.com:The Justice Department under President Barack Obama has quietly dropped its legal representation of more than a dozen Bush-era Pentagon and administration officials - including former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and aide Paul Wolfowitz - in a lawsuit by Al Qaeda operative Jose Padilla, who spent years behind bars without charges in conditions his lawyers compare to torture.Charles Miller, a Justice Department spokesman, confirmed Tuesday that the government has agreed to retain private lawyers for the officials, at a cost of up to $200 per hour. Miller said “conflicts concerns” prompted the decision. He did not elaborate.One private attorney involved in the case, who asked not to be named, said the Obama administration apparently concluded “its duty to represent the defendants zealously, which includes the duty to argue any and all defenses, can’t be discharged for reasons of policy and other government interests.”The Justice Department continues to represent only a single official, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in the suit.Last week a federal judge in Charleston, S.C. dismissed Padilla’s suit against Gates, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and several military officers who oversaw Padilla’s confinement at the nearby Navy brig. Judge Richard Gergel said allowing the case to proceed could result in “a massive discovery assault on the intelligence agencies of the United States Government….and lengthy and probing depositions of high-ranking government officials with national security clearances and personal knowledge of some of the Nation’s most sensitive information.”____________________________________In DC, what kind of lawyer does $200 hour get you? I would think it would not pay for the defense this case requires. I guess the defendants will get stuck for the difference. And I still don't understand the DOJ's reason for doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pollyannaish Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 I am beginning to really despise the decisions these folks make. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sanguine Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 What conflicts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clearvision Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 It will all be blamed on budget cuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AceRimmer Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 It will all be blamed on budget cuts. No problem. Set up a Rummy-Wolfowitz Defense Fund, and they'll probably get much better representation in court than they could ever expect from Holder's DOJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pollyannaish Posted February 24, 2011 Share Posted February 24, 2011 What conflicts? It makes me suspicious about what they have planned for the election season. Union thuggery, charges against the previous administration.... Scary times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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