Restoring Confidence in the Department of Justice

August 4, 2002

by Christopher G. Adamo

Liberals in the media are rejoicing over the fact that Attorney General John Ashcroft is experiencing a growing public-relations problem among conservatives. This situation is clearly not limited to recent criticisms by Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. Considering his pro-Arab views and ties, it isn’t surprising that Norquist would rebuff the Attorney General’s efforts to implement policies for the purpose of shoring up American defenses against attack by militant Islamic extremists.

On the other hand, certain actions by the Bush Administration have alienated true conservatives, contributing to an ever increasing cynicism among them, focused in particular towards the Department of Justice. Several proposals for new programs, intended to strengthen America against terrorist threats, are running into “brick walls” among law-abiding and patriotic Americans who see their own rights and freedoms being threatened.

Few people really believe that President Bush or John Ashcroft are morally capable of the sort of abuses of power about which so many throughout the political spectrum are clamoring. However, they are aware of the tendencies for worthy methods to eventually be employed by unscrupulous individuals for the furtherance of some personal or political agenda. And it is here that the Bush administration has not done what is necessary to allay fears.

While no member of this administration has personally abused power, several individuals from the previous administration regularly did so with impunity. So far, not a single member of that corrupt presidency has been held accountable. The real concern is not what act George Bush or John Ashcroft might perpetrate if granted hugely expanded powers as a result of 9-11, but rather what a Hillary Clinton or Janet Reno might do on the dark day that another of their kind once again assumes leadership.

As a result of those investigations and indictments which should have occurred but never did, a disturbing precedent has been set. If an office holder can stall, obfuscate, and otherwise obstruct justice until the end of his presidency, neither he nor any of his underlings will be held accountable by his successor. Furthermore, if during this stonewalling process, innocent citizens are “railroaded” in an effort to sidetrack those during the investigating, the misfortune will be entirely their own.

Were Bush and Ashcroft able to present a clear track-record of determined pursuit and retribution against those who overstepped constitutional limits on their authority during the Clinton years, the general public might feel more confident that present and future office-holders would respect the legal limits imposed on them. Unfortunately, no such track record exists. As a matter of fact, Democrats have so dominated the political landscape in recent weeks that, at present, it appears that no misdeed will be punished, and no investigation will even ensue, without first receiving a Democrat stamp of approval.

Worse yet, certain sordid individuals remain in office to this day, such as IRS Commissioner Charles Rossotti, who used his agency at the bidding of Bill Clinton to hound conservative organizations. Just this week, Larry Klayman of Judicial Watch has obtained concrete evidence of Rosotti’s wrongdoing. So far, there have been no outward responses from anyone within the Bush administration.

Klayman’s organization maintains that its purpose is to root out corruption wherever it is found and take legal action against it. Unfortunately, under the premise of being “non-partisan,” Klayman goes after all misdeeds, big and small, on both sides of the political aisle. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that liberals in the media and on Capitol Hill will completely ignore great malfeasance among Democrats, instead focusing solely on those offenses, no matter how inconsequential, perpetrated by Republicans, the result of Klayman’s efforts is that Democrats continually flout the law while Republicans are regularly hamstrung by it. Thus he makes himself a general nuisance to the president and his cabinet without presenting any real hope of cleaning up Washington.

Nevertheless, having been shown inarguable proof of Rosotti’s miscarriage of the fearsome power of the IRS, Attorney General Ashcroft should support Klayman and diligently clean house in that agency, punishing violators to the fullest extent of the law. While an undertaking of this nature may initially face criticism, the accumulation of evidence would ultimately vindicate it. In such unrelenting pursuits lies Ashcroft’s sole hope of restoring public confidence. On the other hand, indifference to these specific responsibilities of office can only be perceived as indifference to the constitutional rights and protections of the common citizen.

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Christopher G. Adamo is a freelance writer who lives in southeastern Wyoming with his wife and sons. He has been involved in grassroots political activity for many years. Chris was the editor of the Wyoming Christian from 1994 to 1996, and his columns can also been seen at CheyenneNetwork.com.

Send the author an E mail at Adamo@ConservativeTruth.org.

For more of Christopher's articles, visit his archives.