Where is Elliot Richardson? Loyalty over Integrity and the Future of Our Nation!

History is repeating itself, but no one is watching.  The executive branch of government is tipping balance of power, and nothing is said.  The United States is in Constitutional crisis, but nobody cares.  The future of our Nation hangs in the balance, but we are surrounded by media yes-men and cowards.  We need men and women of integrity to step up and defend rule of law, regardless of the political risk, or we will fail as a nation.

Where is Elliot Richardson when we need him most?

On August 9th, 1974, President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office over the Watergate political scandal.  For the benefit of younger generations, here is the background (or just google it):

The White House staff attempted, and almost succeeded in protecting Republican political operatives.  On June 17, 1972, just months prior to the 1972 general election, 5 men broke into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) HQ at the Watergate Hotel.  After a long investigation under two special prosecutors, evidence indicated that Nixon used the Department of Justice (DOJ), FBI, the CIA and the IRS to investigate and intimidate political opponents.  Facts also showed the administration attempted to cover-up the bungled burglary.

Although there was no evidence Nixon knew about the burglary in advance, taped discussions indicated an effort to undermine Congress and manage the media, and the fall-out.  After extensive media scrutiny, and televised Congressional hearings, a number of key Republicans’ committed to Constitutional “balance of power” over political party loyalties turned against the President.  Nixon abdicated his office in disgrace rather than be impeached.

One key decision brought this Constitutional crisis to its historic outcome.  Elliot Richardson, the Attorney General (AG), a Republican, long-time friend, legal counsel, and advisor to Nixon, chose personal integrity and loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to the party and President.  When Congressional testimony uncovered the tape-recording system in the White House, Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox subpoenaed the tapes.  Nixon refused to turn them over, claiming executive privilege.

On October 20th, 1973, the President ordered Richardson, the head of the DOJ, to fire Cox and halt the subpoena.  Richardson had promised Congress he would not interfere with the investigation.  Under great pressure from the White House, and his political party, Richardson refused.  That very night he resigned his position as the senior law enforcement officer of the United States, and kept his oath to uphold the Constitution for the good of the nation.

Cox was fired, but the media and public out-cry from the “Saturday Night Massacre” forced a new special prosecutor to be appointed.  Had Richardson not acted with integrity and respect for the Constitution, the tapes, the scandal, the corruption may have been successfully covered-up.  As Nixon said later, Watergate would have been “a blip” on an otherwise successful term of office.

Since Watergate, politicians have feared using the Justice Department to politically protect the President, dreading a repeat of Watergate.  Even Bill Clinton, impeached for lying under oath to Congress, did not use the Department of Justice to shield himself – he just ignored it.  That is, until now.

Fast forward 50 years.  The Obama Administration disregard for the separate but equal legislative branch, and DOJ willingness to prosecute or protect politically motivated actions are staggering.  Here are just a few examples:

AG Holder ignored subpoenas for documents in the investigation of the death of a U.S. border agent over questionable U.S. government gun sales TO CRIMINAL GANGS.  The administration’s IRS political appointees targeted opponents of the President’s Democratic Party to stop or delay organizing legitimate political groups.  The Secret Service smeared the chairman of its own Congressional Oversight Committee in an effort to embarrass him.

The President and his staff misled the American public over the first murder of a US Ambassador in 50 years.  Congressional investigators uncovered personal statements proving that then Secretary of State Clinton lied about the reasons for the terror attack in Benghazi, Libya, just weeks before the 2012 election.  Investigators uncovered a data system in the Secretary of State’s private home, outside of government security controls.  Congress subpoenaed the server and its documents to further the investigation.  In televised Congressional hearings, presidential candidate Clinton claimed she destroyed no official work related emails.  Clinton claimed she sent no classified information from that server.

An FBI investigation concluded Clinton’s staff deleted at least 10,000 work related emails, and many more are unknown.  The FBI concluded that the she, and her staff had sent and received classified information on the server, some too highly sensitive to provide redacted versions.  As Secretary of State, she was the responsible classification authority, whether they were marked classified or not is irrelevant.  The FBI concluded that staffers destroyed the server and information after the subpoena was issued.  The FBI facilitated the destruction of evidence for devices of key staff members in exchange for their “cooperation.”   The FBI did not recommend any further action against Clinton.

However, the DOJ and FBI diligently investigated and prosecuted former CIA director GEN David Petreaus for mishandling classified – a realization uncovered while the FBI investigated a personal affair with his biographer.  The difference between Petreaus and Clinton, one wonders?  Petreaus admitted to his mistakes; Clinton takes no responsibility for her actions – it’s harder to prosecute a liar.  Coincidentally, Petreaus would have been a formidable candidate against Clinton this election.

The Director of the FBI, the DOJ, and the President himself not only failed to hold Secretary Clinton accountable, they have propped up her campaign for the Presidency.  Obama has claimed executive privilege and refused to respond to questions on the IRS, Benghazi, or classified emails.  Sound familiar?

These issues are not about a 1972 political break-in.  They are about the deaths of loyal Americans, and the executive branch tipping the balance of power in its favor.  The executive branch has the responsibility to enforce the laws.  To many citizens, the DOJ’s actions in these cases appear selective, blatantly political and highly questionable.  Do you want the next President to continue to ignore Congress, and use law-enforcement as a political tool?  If the DOJ enforces laws selectively, how long will our institutions last?  What will become of our justice system?  These issues are about the abuse of power, they are not about Democratic or Republican policies.

Not since Watergate has the White House been so entangled in political deception and disrespect for the elected representatives of our people.    Where is the Washington Post?  Where are the investigative journalists?  Where are the intellectuals that understand the risks to a nation where the elite are above the law?  Which political leader will choose integrity and loyalty to the Constitution over loyalty to their party and their candidate?  Who will have the courage to resign over abuse of power?

Where is Elliot Richardson?

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