But He’s the Vice President and You’re Not
Simple Justice:
As anticipated, the Willacy County, Texas, indictments of Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez are not going the way things usually do. And District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, whose term of office is about to expire, is not happy about it. From USA today:
A county prosecutor who brought indictments against Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and others pounded his fist and shouted at the judge Friday about special treatment for high-profile defendants as a routine motions hearing descended into chaos.
Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra, who is accusing the public officials of culpability in the alleged abuse of prisoners in a federal detention center, asked Presiding Judge Manuel Banales to recuse himself. Guerra has complained about Banales’ handling of the case.
Special treatment for Cheney and Gonzalez? Who would have thought? Regardless of the validity of the accusations handed up by the grand jury, which I’m informed by those far more familiar with the laws of the Republic of Texas may have greater merit than many would expect, the simple fact that they are defendants in a criminal proceeding in a Texas courts strikes me as a pretty good reason for these two, particularly since they are public officials, to show the court a little respect.
So what did Cheney and Gonzalez have to say about all this? Who knows. They didn’t bother to appear. According to the story, they were required to be physically present in the courtroom to be arraigned on the indictment, but these are not the little people, like your or I, who must show respect, not to mention, adherence to the mandate of a court. These are important people, for whom a personal appearance in Willacy County means nothing.
I make no prediction about the…