Nation Topics - Law | The Nation

The article provides short reflections to United States political news stories. News stories looked at include the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing concerning the National Security Agency surveillance scandal, the investigation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Vice-President Richard Cheney's hunting accident, requests for replacement of Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown, and ways to lessen the effects of global warming.

The article considers disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's ties to the U.S. President George W. Bush administration. Evidence has emerged that the Justice Department played a role in shutting down an investigation of Abramoff in 2002. This finding raises questions about whether the Justice Department can be trusted with prosecuting Abramoff. There is also the issue of whether top White House officials abetted Abramoff's questionable dealings as early as 2001.

The article discusses U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito's views on women's issues. It is the author's view that much about the judge's views on issues affecting women was buried during his confirmation hearings. It is suggested that Alito made no attempt to distance himself from his reputation as an abortion opponent. Various writings by Alito on reproductive issues are discussed.

This article discusses the FBI wire tapping of Palestinian-American Edward Said. Said died in September of 2003. Said began appearing in FBI records in February of 1971 in a domestic security investigation. Following the attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics, FBI interest grew in Palestinian-Americans including Edward Said. Said's background, citizenship information, as well as voting, banking and credit reports were investigated by the FBI in October of 1972.

The article presents an editorial regarding the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the United States Supreme Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold confirmation hearings on Alito. The editor contends that Alito's record challenges progress on privacy, civil rights, and control of corporations. A study by University of Chicago law professor Cass Sunstein showed that most of Alito's appeals court dissents take positions more conservative than his colleagues. A study by the Alliance for Justice also shows Alito's conservatism.

The article reports on the scandal surrounding Republican Representative Bob Ney and his involvement in Jack Abramoff's illegal lobbying. Starting in 2002, Ney accepted bribes from Abramoff for ten "official acts." Much of this money came from Native American tribes, on whose behalf Abramoff was lobbying. It is certain that Ney will face charges.

The article looks at how various legal professionals have come together against torture. It is the author's view that there is an extensive cooperation and a logical division of labor among the organizations working on interrogation and detention issues. The author reviews the work of Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Comments on the issue from Richard Wilson of the The American University are included.

The article focuses on the issue of torture and the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. The scandal involving prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib is reviewed. Also reviewed are documents released related to the torture of individuals by U.S. forces by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). It is suggested that former Attorney General John Ashcroft began producing memorandums that opened the way to torture and mistreatment of prisoners following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

The article looks at how the ongoing trial of lobbyist Jack Abramoff is impacting the political reputation of the Republican Party in the United States. It is the author's view that the Abramoff controversy has yet to gain anywhere near the media attention accorded the CIA Plamegate leak investigation or the indictment of Tom Delay. It is suggested that the Abramoff scandal is creating headaches for Republicans and opportunities for Democrats to create political pay dirt.

The article looks at Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, with particular focus on an article published in the November 18, 2005 edition of Princeton University's "Daily Princetonian." According to the article, Alito touted his membership in an organization called Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) when applying to become deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration. It is the author's view that CAP had an innocuous-sounding name that disguised a less benign agenda which included preventing women and minorities from entering Princeton. Various material published by the CAP is reviewed.