Did Bush Obstruct Justice?

Obstruction of Justice is a serious crime.

According to Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 73, Section 1505:

"Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand duly and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, willfully withholds, misrepresents, removes from any place, conceals, covers up, destroys, mutilates, alters, or by other means falsifies any documentary material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which is the subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits another to do so; or

Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress—

Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both."

So what do we make when we find that according to Attorney General Gonzales, as reported:

"WASHINGTON -- President Bush personally blocked an internal Justice Department investigation of the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program earlier this year, Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday.

The review had been requested by Democratic critics of the program, and Justice Department lawyers said in April they were denied the security clearances needed to conduct the review. The administration had not acknowledged until now that it was Bush's decision to thwart the investigation."

So you tell me.

Doesn't "thwarting an investigation" of the Justice Department amount to "obstructing Justice?". If not, what would?

America deserves better.

Keep on coming Senator Kerry! We got your back!

Bob