No other confirmation yet, but this raises some interesting possibilities. 
It’s a state indictment, so Bush can’t pardon them, can he?
No, he can’t.
Of all the things for which Cheney or Gonzalez might have been indicted . . . abuse of prisoners (in the ordinary federal corrections system, not Gitmo) never occurred to me.
I can’t see where it specifies whether it was a state or federal grand jury. I’d think a federal grand jury would have jurisdiction of the treatment of prisoners at a federal prison.
Depending on the charges, the state might have concurrent jurisdiction.
CNN has more. Sounds like a state indictment and the actions of a disgruntled DA.
Rogue DA might be a better way to phrase it. This is not going to go anywhere, nor should it. This sounds like semi-normal South Texas craziness to me.
From the cite:
Cheney’s involvement in the purported criminal activity sounds a bit remote to sustain a criminal charge.
The Gonzales information could conceivably describe actual criminal activity, though.
I imagine both will seek to quash the indictments.
The grand jury system needs to be reformed.
I’ve seen this indictment mentioned in a few different places in the lefty blogosphere. The unanimous reaction has been, “this guy’s a nutcase - ignore him.”
My side’s too-good-to-be-true-ometers work far better than those of the righty blogs, I’m glad to say.
But but but… I’ve been told by a reliable source right here on the Dope that the Straight Dope is essentially the lefty equivalent to the Free Republic. Therefore, we should be frothing at the mouth, and talking about how Cheney and Gonzalez will soon be swinging from the nearest light pole!
Come on people! Get with the program!
Now that the DA is gruntled ,we still have to deal with the legalities. I hope it sticks ,but would be surprised if it did.
I’m Dennis Kucinich, and I approved this post.
Damnit! And here I thought we had a shot to get an insider’s perspective on Elizabeth. My quest continues, although my hope is lessened.
Enjoy,
Steven
Not to be totally pedantic, but he can’t pardon anybody until they’ve been convicted.
Or am I wrong? Can the Prez perform preemptive pardoning, as it were?
Remember Ford/Nixon?
Good point.
She came to earth on a flying saucer, but don’t tell anyone.
It’s better than I imagined! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Enjoy,
Steven
Okay, can someone provide the Cliff Notes version of the indictment?
It looks like they are saying: Cheney invested a bazillion into the prison corporation, then the corporation started getting huge federal contracts (but it looks more like he invested into some kind of mutual fund and the fund is the one with a few fingers in the prison pie). Okay, I can see how if he sort-of-vaguley owns the prison, and he’s sort of influenced the awarding of contracts to the prison, there would be a conflict of interest. But I don’t understand the logic of the part that goes: “Cheney is accused of contributing to the neglect of federal immigration detainees by contracting for-profit prisons.”
I don’t get it.
As much as I would cream myself to see Cheney and Gonzalez indicted for anything, I’m having a very hard time working up any glee over this. It sounds like this is a mere nuisance for Cheney and Gonzalez, resulting in some fine which they’ll pay with their lunch money. They won’t be going to jail over this.