Why was Obama kept in the dark about Petraeus’s affair?
Such prudence is a well-established approach, the law enforcement official says. “This has been long standing practice for many, many years.” The official cited a 2007 memo by then Attorney General Michael Mukasey regarding contacts with the White House during criminal investigations. As part of the process of cleaning up the politically motivated firing of U.S. Attorneys under his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales, Mukasey issued explicit instructions that Justice officials had to follow. “Alerting the White House of an ongoing investigation? That’s a huge no-no,” the law enforcement official says.
Unfortunately for the Obama team, there are huge holes in their arguments. For starters, Mukasey himself says there is no prohibition on Justice-to-White House communication in criminal investigations. “The memo makes it quite clear that not only is that not the case, it is explicitly not the case,” Mukasey told TIME Tuesday evening. Says Mukasey: “The point is not that the White House can never be apprised of a pending criminal investigation; the point is that the White House should not reach out and influence a pending criminal investigation.”
More to the point, Mukasey’s memo specifically instructs “all components of the Justice Department” that “it is critically important to have frequent and expeditious communications relating to national security matters, including counter-terrorism and counter-espionage issues.” If anything, the Mukasey memo orders Justice Department officials–including prosecutors and the FBI–to communicate with relevant political authorities when they make a discovery like they did in the Petraeus case.
The Mukasey memo isn’t binding on the current Attorney General, or the Justice Department. But it is not the only precedent that suggests the Administration handled the Petraeus affair badly.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
He wasn’t.
jawkneemusic on November 14, 2012 at 1:01 PM
Someone was sent out to the golf course to tell him, but he forgot.
The Rogue Tomato on November 14, 2012 at 1:04 PM
I’m already exhausted. This is going to be a long four years.
threeinone on November 14, 2012 at 1:05 PM
LOL. There is no way that obama didn’t know about it.
Pork-Chop on November 14, 2012 at 1:06 PM
And the wagons remain in a tight circle…
d1carter on November 14, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Maybe he kept himself in the dark by not caring about the day to day issues of being prez
ChunkyLover on November 14, 2012 at 1:07 PM
If Holder didn’t tell Obama, he incompetent. Yet Holder is being retained. It’s inconceivable Holder didn’t tell Obama. The last thing we will get from these thugs is the truth.
Basilsbest on November 14, 2012 at 1:07 PM
IF anyone in their right mind thinks bho didn’t know about that, someplace there is a bridge for sale? jarrett and holder knows everything that goes on and bho knows as well!
The whole blooning bunch are lying crooks!
L
letget on November 14, 2012 at 1:08 PM
The only thing Obama has been involved with in the last four years was the killing of bin Laden. On all else, he was not aware. Really!
a capella on November 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
Yeah, Obama hides in a closet and Time Crapazine thinks he was “kept in the dark.” Please go bankrupt faster, idiots.
Marxism is for dummies on November 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
OK,
Yeah…so we all believe that?
Naw, I didn’t think so.
ProfShadow on November 14, 2012 at 1:17 PM
He wasn’t you azzholes.
Plus “being kept in the dark” is racist.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:18 PM
This, to perfection
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:18 PM
This explains to perfection what happened.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:18 PM
Shut it down, folks. Nothing more to say.
CurtZHP on November 14, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Cantor is the fool of the land.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:19 PM
Sesame Street marathon on PBS…
affenhauer on November 14, 2012 at 1:19 PM
1. because he wasn’t.
2. He’s wrapped in cotton and/or doesn’t want to know when his CIA director is potentially compromised.
SarahW on November 14, 2012 at 1:20 PM
Most thuggish media of all times.
Most obtuse and idiotic president of all times.
It is the ultimate form of racism to expect this little of the first half black president.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:25 PM
Here is a real leader:
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin/posts/10151264793653588
ChuckTX on November 14, 2012 at 1:30 PM
Because it would have harshed his mello on the golf course.
hepcat on November 14, 2012 at 1:31 PM
TIME Magazine, delusional as ever, believes 0bama didn’t know.
UltimateBob on November 14, 2012 at 1:33 PM
Also referred to as “the soft bigotry of low expectations.”
UltimateBob on November 14, 2012 at 1:34 PM
the true leader of the conservative movement speaks.
She will not remain silent. will she run?
Palin 2016
renalin on November 14, 2012 at 1:39 PM
Why wasn’t Hitler told about the concentration camps?
the_nile on November 14, 2012 at 1:43 PM
A tissue of lies!
How long before this regime is thought of as illegitimate by a significant part of the population?
claudius on November 14, 2012 at 1:43 PM
The middle class will be raped by this oaf, like no other. He hates them and aims to destroy them.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 1:57 PM
Why wasn’t TIME magazine looking into this with a fraction of the effort they pursued the Valarie Plame nothingburger with?
Good Lt on November 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
One and done.
conservative pilgrim on November 14, 2012 at 2:00 PM
Doesn’t that assume the question? The better question is, how plausible was it that Obama was kept in the dark about an investigation into his CIA director?
This is either incompetence by Obama or pretending ignorance. I don’t know that it matters which one, because either one is inexcusable.
tom on November 14, 2012 at 2:02 PM
Azzhole – he was terrible and will be terrible, and is the biggest hypocrite. So is Michelle, the French queen of the day.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 2:02 PM
So we’re to believe that not even Holder picked up the phone to tell Barry about this? Please, the whole story would be insulting if it wasn’t so preposterous.
RadClown on November 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM
It’s not as important whether Obama knew, it’s MORE important that Petraeus had no idea that Obama didn’t know. If Obama didn’t know.
MaggiePoo on November 14, 2012 at 2:04 PM
The entire admin. is full of crooks, starting with Obama.
Yes, go after his azz. He knew all and let the land be in the dark.
Go to Hades, from top to bottom.
Media, suffocate, most all of you.
The election was the biggest scam, ever.
Obama has blood on his hands on Benghazi.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 2:05 PM
Of course, Obama knew and had contact with Petraeus. How else would Obama and Petraeus put forth the identical false story.
Period.
MaggiePoo on November 14, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Liar, liar, liar
Muenchhausen is very proud.
So is Orwell, Machiavelli, Pinocchio and Goebbels.
A bigger Farse the world has never seen.
50.xx% is NOT a mandate.
Schadenfreude on November 14, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Of course, when you’re just “Eye Candy” you don’t need to know these sorts of things.
Off Topic – I’m using an Apple computer, running FireFox (and Safari) and the “Hot Air” logo at the bottom of the screen often blocks my ability to log in. Usually only a problem if the comments extend all the way to the bottom of the page. Is this unique to my set-up, or are others experiencing the same problem? (I had to find a newer topic, that had fewer comments, so I could log in.) Right now the “submit” button is partially blocked by the Hot Air logo. Gads!
Hill60 on November 14, 2012 at 2:24 PM
No, not just you. Running Windows 7 and Chrome browser and I get the same thing. Had to log on through the “Dude” headline so I could respond. Not sure but I think this problem only exist in the Headlines. I now have the same issue with the submit button as well.
Apparently it’s not a big deal to the owner because it’s been going on for a while.
CTSherman on November 14, 2012 at 2:36 PM
Why?
Because he wants to be. He’s the Presidential equivalent of Sargent Schultz.”I know nothing…! Nothing!”
From Fast & Furious to everything at Benghazi (security before, response during, story after) to Patraeus.
The only thing Obama ever knew about was bin Laden. Of course, “he did that.”
taznar on November 14, 2012 at 2:41 PM
Please get word to Uncle Joe, I’m sure he is not aware that I am in the gulag.
slickwillie2001 on November 14, 2012 at 3:06 PM
That was excellent. I mean a really excellent, succinct summary.
INC on November 14, 2012 at 3:08 PM
Sarah Palin keeps fighting the fight. They’ve—and by they I mean Dems, media and Reps—thrown everything at her, accused her and slandered her, yet she keeps speaking out for the country.
My husband made the parallel with the British Shadow Cabinet. She is truly the Leader of the Opposition.
INC on November 14, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Shadow Cabinet
INC on November 14, 2012 at 3:16 PM
That bug in particular started a week or so ago. I always see enough of a sliver of the button I need though, to make it work.
slickwillie2001 on November 14, 2012 at 3:17 PM
…and by the way, you can use AdBlock to block annoying images like that, not just advertising.
slickwillie2001 on November 14, 2012 at 3:18 PM
It’s happening to me as well.
I have to log in on the main page, not in a headline. Once I’m in, then there’s a sliver that I can click.
INC on November 14, 2012 at 3:21 PM
I realize some already know this, but in case you missed it:
Whistleblower trusted GOP leaders with sex scandal report that could have sunk Obama’s re-election
INC on November 14, 2012 at 3:27 PM
If anyone believes he wasn’t informed I have the acreage to sell. It’s on the lower portion of my property and in the interest of fair warning it would be subject to flooding during a tropical or extra-tropical storm.
chemman on November 14, 2012 at 3:35 PM
The circus kept people happy for several centuries before Rome finally fractured.
chemman on November 14, 2012 at 3:40 PM