Congressional Republicans, among them, Congressman Darrell Issa, helped kill the very bill, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, that would have prevented the Department of Justice from being able to take the phone records of the Associated Press.
As the media today continue to focus on the news that the
Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoenaed and retrieved phone records from
20 of the Associated Press’ phone lines — which members of the media as
well as Democrats and Republicans have roundly condemned — it’s
important to note that Republican Representative Darrell Issa, among the
most powerful in Congress, voted against a media shield bill that would
have protected the AP and others from this very action. Issa is now
grandstanding about how “above the law” he believes the administration
acts, when Republicans literally decided to not pass the law the
administration would supposedly have been above.
‘House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa issued a statement slamming the administration,” Buzzfeed reports:
“This is obviously disturbing,” Issa said. “Americans should take notice that top Obama Administration officials increasingly see themselves as above the law and emboldened by the belief that they don’t have to answer to anyone. I will work with my fellow House Chairmen on an appropriate response to Obama Administration officials.”
