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1009 votes

Cheney and Gonzalez Indictments Thrown Out

On November 18, Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez were indicted in a Texas state court due to allegations of prisoner abuse in federal facilities.

Now it turns out that the Administrative Judge Manuel Banales dismissed the indictments and even told the prosecutor, Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, to "exercise caution as his term in office ends."

Some of the specific accusations, as reported by AFP...

Cheney profited from the abuse because he invested 85 million dollars in a mutual fund company which holds shares of for-profit prisons.

The indictment also accused Cheney of committing "at least misdemeanor assaults" of inmates by allowing other inmates to assault them.

The indictment further alleges that Gonzalez "participated by further having used his position ... to stop the investigations as to the wrong doings which includes the assaults committed in the prison for profit in Willacy County, Texas."


From AP...

Banales withheld judgment on whether probable cause existed for the Cheney and Gonzales indictments because they were not represented in court and did not present any argument. For the other defendants, he found no probable cause to support the charges...

Guerra ran the investigation into alleged prisoner abuse with a siege mentality. He worked it from his home, dubbed it "Operation Goliath" and kept it secret from his staff, he said. He gave all the witnesses biblical pseudonyms - his was "David.


Posted by Natasha G on 12.02.08
32 Comments   add a comment >>
Kathy T.
Friday December 5, 2008, 8:41 PM


Let's not all forget Mr Donald Rumsfeld another Liar if anyone wants to see the most amazing series, watch this one on PBShttp://www.pbs.org/now/shows/401/index.html


Linda Samples
Friday December 5, 2008, 6:36 AM


i hear people often ask, "How did we get here". it was apathy. You know the Bill of rights starts off "we the people" not we the gov't. ever heard the term "Disaster capitalism?" well, they've used "terrorist" tactics to scare the shit out of the american people and then took over. this "bailout" is the biggest theft in US history. HOw come now they are balking at bailing out the big 3 when they didn't even blink to give their buddy's 700 billion dollars at wall street? I've watched them take away our freedom while the religeous right (and alot of others) just say "God will take care of it" what a joke.
Now we have 20,000 US troops stationed in US. Being trained for combat on their own people. what do you think they are there for? we already live in a police state. where else in the world do they have "roadblocks" with guns and dogs? i'll tell you... In america and Iraq. The gov't is treating it's own people like they are treating their "enemies. coincidence?? i think not. they stole 2 elections and still the people slept. they stole all of our money and still the people sleep. in Europe, the gov't is afraid of the people, in US the people are afraid of the gov't. until the tv stops spewing fear every night, nothing will change. do you wonder why we didn't hear how bad the damage was to Houston when Ike hit it? the damage was very bad, but not a word. the people have nobody to blame but themselves. i've been fighting the good fight for 8 years now, it's about time othersjoi

Eric G.
Thursday December 4, 2008, 11:58 AM


Just remember, folks, we officially get our country back in 47 days' time.

patricia r.
Thursday December 4, 2008, 7:45 AM


One of Our Care2 friends wrote this interesting article about Bush. Gerge W. Bush Belongs In Prison byJoel S. Hirschhorn

We The People have a responsibility to speak out and demand that justice be served especially when our "elected" officials fail to carry out THEIR responsibility. We The People have taken the low road for too long. Bush wouldn't have gotten elected in the first place if Americans were really interested in running the country. Most people have an opinion and want things to be different, but are not willing to go out of their way to make it happen. The simple act of writing your congressmen, if done by even 1/2 of the voters in this country would move mountains and "We would be masters of a fate once again."


http://www.care2.com/news/member/321758002/968557

Nona S.
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 12:38 PM


This just shows the condition of this country. How did we ever put someone like Cheney or Gonzalez in charge...Yuck

Sir Walkadelic F.
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 11:12 AM


from what i understand, this lawsuit tried to implicate dick and alberto because of a link to an investment company that was linked to an investment company that was linked to prisoner abuse. so its probably good it was dismissed.

There is a lot these guys may have to own up to with real substance, and lawsuits like these just muddy the waters. Just lawyers trying to get publicity.

Debra Pearl
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 10:04 AM


This is a sad time for our country...we are losing our status. Falling apart from the inside. I have heard that with Obama, the only changes will be SOME new faces. He's taking on people from the last 2 president's administrations...and they are all going towards the same thing...the NWO. Heard there is talk of a global central bank. ANd who do you think will own this bank? The same people who own the FED. "W" will pardon himself and his buddies from criminal evil-doing...or maybe Obama will do it as he's been groomed for this job by big business. I feel for the Vets's and I wish there was something we could do, but it seems there isn't. The Congress and the Senate don't vote the way the people want anymore. They vote for where the perks come from. The Vets will not be the only people committing suicide soon.

T.Ed. &.
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 9:22 AM


Our system requires Congress to investigate and act to impeach "high crimes and misdemeaners" of administration officials. So far, Pelosi has maintained this action as "off the table". What a shame!!

David S.
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 7:50 AM


So our national leaders are above the law and behave like royalty, doing anything they like with impunity. Isn't this why our country broke away from England in the first place? My opinion, if we allow this to stand, we deserve what we get.

Joan Z.
Wednesday December 3, 2008, 7:10 AM


...and who IS responsible?! Who stands up and says, "This was MY fault. I was in charge". This makes me feel so hopeless about our government... until I realize that an African American was just voted in to be president and a new beginning starts soon (I pray it is so!). Perhaps it will be better...


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