1115.org

Yesterday the Senate Judiciary Committee authorized the issuance of subpoenas for documents relating to the NSA’s warrantless wiretapping program.

A major victory for the good guys. Sen. Jon Kyl got the dubious satisfaction of blocking the vote for a week. More power to him. He also voted against the authorization.

On May 21, the Senate Judiciary Committee had made its ninth formal request for these documents. The committee had given so-called Attorney General Alberto Gonzales until June 5 to respond. Not only did he send nothing by the due date, he didn’t even get around to responding till yesterday.

The Justice Department rebuffed Leahy in a letter yesterday.

That’s one way to put it. Another way would be to say: the evil henchmen of Alberto G told Leahy et al to go f**k a duck.

So now the subpoenas have been authorized. Next they need to be issued.

Does anybody know what Pat Leahy regards as the proper number of times to threaten to issue an authorized subpoena before actually issuing it? Does anybody know if anyone is making book on this?