DOJ, Plame special counsel wanted Congress to block CIA ID leak probe News
DOJ, Plame special counsel wanted Congress to block CIA ID leak probe

[JURIST] The US Department of Justice and the special counsel investigating the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] advised Congress earlier this week to block legislation that would force the adminstration to turn over documents related to the case. The DOJ said in a Wednesday letter to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) [official website] released Thursday that special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald believed that hearings and the production of documents would interfere with his ongoing investigation. Democrats in the Congress have thusfar been unable to pass legislation to force the President and the Departments of State, Justice and Defense to give Congress documents related to Valerie Plame. House Republicans on the Intelligence Committee turned a proposed investigatory bill back on Thursday, after their counterparts on the House Judiciary Committee did so Wednesday. Plame's husband, former diplomat Joseph Wilson [Wikipedia profile], claims that the leak was a response to his criticism of Bush's Iraq policy in 2003. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove [Wikipedia backgrounder] has denied leaking Plame's identity [JURIST report] to TIME magazine reporter Matthew Cooper. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.