Kerry Says White House Stonewalling is a Disservice to Democracy

07/09/2007

Kerry Says White House Stonewalling is a Disservice to Democracy

WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. John Kerry issued the following statement today, in response to the White House announcement that the President's lawyers will block Congress from hearing testimony from two aides suspected of playing a role in the US Attorney's purge.


"I hope President Bush will rethink his refusal to cooperate with Congress and have his aides come clean on the firings of U.S. Attorneys," Kerry said. "Attempting to prevent the Senate from investigating only prolongs the toxicity and further isolates a White House in bunker mode, at a time when bipartisan cooperation on big issues is desperately needed. From Day One, the President has invoked the Cheney playbook and tried to draw a vast circle of secrecy around his Administration. His refusal to allow aides to answer questions openly and honestly is another reminder of not just how little this White House respects the legislative branch, but how stubbornly committed they are to avoiding transparency and thwarting the public's right to know."

The Kerry campaign, which raised millions of dollars to guarantee "every vote will be counted" in the 2004 election, has challenged the results in just one county, where a technician dismantled at least one voting machine prior to the recount. Daniel J. Hoffheimer, an attorney hired by the Kerry campaign has emphasized his belief that despite that challenge, "this presidential election is over. The Bush-Cheney ticket has won.