Censure motion introduced in House over
Iraq, torture
Raw Story
Larisa Alexandrovna
December 20, 2005
Ranking House Judiciary Democrat Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has introduced a
motion to censure President Bush and Vice President Cheney for providing
misleading information to Congress in advance of the Iraq war, failing to
respond to written questions and potential violations of international law, RAW
STORY has learned.
The resolutions were quietly introduced Sunday evening along with a third
resolution (HR 635) to create a Select Committee to investigate the
administration's intent to go to war prior to congressional
authorization. The committee would also be charged with examining manipulation
of pre-war intelligence, thwarting Congressional oversight and retaliatory
attacks against critics. As part of this resolution, House Judiciary Democrats
seek also to explore violations of international law as pertaining to detainee
abuse and torture of prisoners of war.
RAW STORY acquired copies of the resolutions Tuesday. To view the resolution
to create investigative body to determine if offenses are impeachable, click
here; the resolution to censure President George W. Bush, click here; and the
resolution to censure Vice President Dick Cheney, click here.
The Select Committee seeks to subpoena the President and other members of
the administration in hopes of ascertaining if impeachable offenses have been
committed. Sources close to the Judiciary Committee indicate they believe this
is the only avenue left after having written repeated letters requesting
answers on matters ranging from the Downing Street Memos to the outing of
covert CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson. HR 635, which would create the select
committee, could potentially recommend articles of impeachment against both the
President and Vice President.
Republicans are not expected to support a Select Committee, nor are they
expected to approve censure motions.
House Resolution 636 seeks to censure the President for failing to respond
to repeated requests for information on pre-war intelligence, possible war
crimes against detainees and violation of international law, and retaliatory
action against critics of the administration. House Resolution 637 seeks
censure the Vice President for the same alleged abuses of power and failure to
respond to repeated requests for information and testimony.
A resolution of censure or a motion of censure is a formal congressional
rebuke.
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