IN 2007, OBAMA CRITICIZED THE USE OF EXECUTIVE
PRIVILEGE
In
2007, Obama Was Critical Of Invoking Executive Privilege. CNN’S LARRY
KING: “Do you favor executive privilege or should Karl Rove and others in that
like position be forced to testify before the House or Senate? OBAMA: “Well, you
know, I think we'll -- we'll determine over the next several weeks how this
administration responds to the very appropriate call by Patrick Leahy, the
chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to have these individuals come in and
testify. You know, there's been a tendency on the part of this administration to
-- to try to hide behind executive privilege every time there's something a
little shaky that's taking place. And I think, you know, the administration
would be best served by coming clean on this. There doesn't seem to be any
national security issues involved with the U.S. attorney question. There doesn't
seem to be any justification for not offering up some clear, plausible rationale
for why these -- these U.S. attorneys were targeted when, by all assessments,
they were doing an outstanding job. I think the American people deserve to know
what was going on there.” (CNN’s “Larry King Tonight,” 3/20/07)
- In 2007, Then-Candidate Obama Said Executive Privilege “Is One That Is Subject To Abuse” And Said His Presidency Would Show “A Sufficient Respect For Law And Coequal Branches Of Government.” OBAMA: “I think that the issue of executive power and executive privilege is one that is subject to abuse and in an Obama presidency what you will see will be a sufficient respect for law and coequal branches of government that I hope we don't find ourselves in a situation in which we would be having aides being subpoenaed for what I think everybody acknowledges is some troublesome information.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 3/28/07)
Shortly After Taking Office,
President Obama Said He Would Hold Himself To “A New Standard Of
Openness”
Obama:
“I will also hold myself as president to a new standard of
openness. Going forward, anytime the American people want to know something
that I or a former president wants to withhold, we will have to consult with the
Attorney General and the White House counsel whose business it is to insure
compliance with the rule of law. Information will not be withheld just
because I say so. It will be withheld because a separate authority believes
my request is well grounded in the Constitution. Let me say this as simply as
I can: transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this
presidency.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks
At Press Conference , Washington, D.C., 1/21/09)
- Obama: “The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears.” (President Barack Obama, Memo For The Heads Of Executive Departments And Agencies, 3/9/09)
TODAY, OBAMA INVOKED EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO PROTECT THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE “FAST & FURIOUS” INVESTIGATION
Obama Invoked Executive Privilege
Shortly Before A Hearing Convened To Hold Attorney General Eric Holder In
Contempt Of Congress
“President
Barack Obama Invoked Executive Privilege Wednesday To Withhold Documents A House
Committee Is Seeking In An Investigation Of A Flawed Gun-Smuggling Probe In
Arizona.” “President Barack Obama invoked executive privilege Wednesday
to withhold documents a House committee is seeking in an investigation of a
flawed gun-smuggling probe in Arizona. In a letter to Rep. Darrell Issa,
R-Calif., a Justice Department official said the privilege applies to documents
that explain how the department learned that there were problems with the
investigation called Operation Fast and Furious.” (Pete Yost, “Justice Dept Says
President Has Exerted Executive Privilege Over Fast And Furious Documents,” The
Associated Press, 6/20/12)
- The White House Defended Obama’s Assertion Of Privilege As “Similar To That Of Former Presidents George W. Bush And Bill Clinton.” “White House spokesman Eric Schultz said Mr. Obama's reasoning was similar to that of former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Mr. Schultz said the other presidents ‘protected the same category of documents we're protecting today,’ meaning after-the-fact internal materials.” (Evan Perez, “Obama Asserts Executive Privilege In Gun-Trafficking Rift,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/20/12)
- Obama’s Assertion Of Privilege “Threw Into Uncertainty A Possible Vote To Sanction Attorney General Eric Holder With Contempt Of Congress.” “The move threw into uncertainty a possible vote to sanction Attorney General Eric Holder with contempt of Congress. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was meeting Wednesday morning to discuss the contempt fight. The panel's chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R., Calif.), said the committee was evaluating the White House's assertion.” (Evan Perez, “Obama Asserts Executive Privilege In Gun-Trafficking Rift,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/20/12) Source: RNC
