Don't forget about today's other hearing. The one about how Gonzales lied under oath and the government was spying on journalist and things of that nature. Just starting now.
Live video Realplayer feed from the committee hearing room.
(http://judiciary.senate.gov/webcast/live.ram)
"Preserving the Rule of Law in the Fight Against Terrorism"
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226
10:00 a.m.
Jack Landman Goldsmith
As drational suggested last month:
Gonzales knew that Goldsmith is scheduled to testify soon before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Goldsmith's book excerpt makes it clear that he is about to swear under oath that Alberto Gonzales lied to Congress.
Liveblogging continued below. More background here.
Leahy just finished his opening remarks, now Specter is giving his. Both praising Goldsmith and his book, "The Terror Presidency".
Specter just mentioned the clear difference between Gonzales' statements to the committee and excerpts from Goldsmith's book.
They just swore him in and Goldsmith is starting his opening statement.
Leahy is asking him about the TSP: Is it far to say that the warrantless wiretapping program or at least some parts of it that you could not support legally?
"It was the biggest legal mess I've ever encountered."
"Senior leadership agreed with me, the White House didn't."
Goldsmith is cautious of labels as far as which program is which.
Do you believe it would have been possible to accomplish what they wanted to do legally?
"Yes, I do."
"They did not want the legal analysis crutinized by anyone even within the executive branch."
Specter is asking what he can say about the hospital room visit.
"You can't even say what constitutional law principle was violated?" Goldsmith is saying he is not allowed to discuss the legal analysis!
Continued in the comments below.
UPDATE: It's over. Record will be kept open for three weeks to give Goldsmith a chance to respond, or explain why he can not respond which was his standard method of operation today, unfortunately.
Thanks to those who helped lived blog in the comments.