Legal News

A Vision in Vermont: To Prosecute President Bush for Murder

By Ashby Jones

Vincent Bugliosi, left, speaks at a news conference in Burlington, Vt., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008. Bugliosi, the author of the book, “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder,” was in Vermont to support the candidacy of Charlotte Dennett, the Progressive candidate for attorney general of Vermont.(AP Photo/Toby Talbot)

Now here’s a possible lawsuit that, if filed, would render some vituperative opinion pieces in the nation’s newspapers: the prosecution of President Bush for murder.

It’s reportedly in the playbook of Charlotte Dennett, 61, the Progressive Party’s candidate for Vermont Attorney General. On Thursday, Dennett said that, if elected, she would bring such a suit. Here’s the AP story.

Dennett, an attorney and investigative journalist, says Bush must be held accountable for the deaths of thousands of people in Iraq — U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians. She said she would appoint a special prosecutor: former Los Angeles prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi, the author of “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder,” a book we’ve blogged on before.

“Someone has to step forward,” said Dennett, flanked by Bugliosi at a news conference announcing her plan. “Someone has to say we cannot put up with this lack of accountability any more.”

Bugliosi said any state attorney general would have jurisdiction since Bush committed “overt acts” including the military’s recruitment of soldiers in Vermont and allegedly lying about the threat posed by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in speeches that were aired in Vermont and elsewhere.

“No man, even the president of the United States, is above the law,” said Bugliosi.

The White House press office didn’t respond to a request for comment Thursday. But Republican National Committee spokesman Blair Latoff denounced Dennett.

“It’s extremely disappointing that a candidate for state attorney general is more concerned with radical left-wing provocation than upholding the law of Vermont,” said Latoff. “These incendiary suggestions may score points among the most fringe elements of American society, but can’t be settling for anyone looking for an attorney general.”

LB Readers, the floor is yours.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on September 19, 2008 (boomark / email).