Political issues John Ashcroft

john ashcroft @ cpac in february 2010

ashcroft s policy positions on privacy , civil liberties issues attracted reactions aligned people s political backgrounds: conservatives pleased , liberals had criticism. critics included american civil liberties union , pro-choice groups.

in january 2002, partially nude female statue of spirit of justice, stands in great hall of justice department, ashcroft held press conferences, covered blue curtains, along male counterpart, majesty of justice. speculated ashcroft thought reporters photographing him female statue in background make fun of church s opposition pornography. justice department spokeswoman said ashcroft knew nothing of decision spend $8,000 curtains; spokesman said decision permanent curtains intended save on $2,000 per use rental costs of temporary curtains used formal events.

in july 2002, ashcroft proposed creation of operation tips, domestic program in workers , government employees inform law enforcement agencies suspicious behavior encounter while performing duties. program criticized beginning, critics deriding program domestic informant network along lines of east german stasi or soviet kgb, , encroachment upon first , fourth amendments. united states postal service refused party it. ashcroft defended program necessary component of ongoing war on terrorism, proposal abandoned.

ashcroft proposed draft of domestic security enhancement act of 2003, legislation expand powers of u.s. government fight crime , terrorism, while simultaneously eliminating or curtailing judicial review of these powers incidents related domestic terrorism. bill leaked , posted internet on february 7, 2003.

on may 26, 2004, ashcroft held news conference @ said intelligence multiple sources indicated terrorist organization, al qaeda, intended attack united states in coming months. critics suggested trying distract attention drop in approval ratings of president bush, campaigning re-election.

groups supporting individual gun ownership praised ashcroft s support through doj second amendment. said specifically, second amendment protects individual s right keep , bear arms, expressing position second amendment expresses right. nra president sandra froman said, when these bush administration officials affirmed second amendment protects individual right, enemies of freedom outraged because fear second amendment is– shield against oppression.

in 2009 in ashcroft v. al-kidd, ninth circuit court of appeals in san francisco found ashcroft sued , held responsible wrongful detention of abdullah al-kidd. american citizen arrested @ dulles airport in march 2003 on way saudi arabia study. held 15 days in maximum security in 3 states, , 13 months in supervised release, used material witness in trial of sami omar al-hussayen. (the latter acquitted of charges of supporting terrorism). al-kidd never charged , not called witness in al-hussayen case.)

the panels court described government s assertions under usa patriot act (2001) repugnant of constitution . in detailed , @ times passionate opinion, judge milan smith likened allegations against al-kidd similar repressive practices of british crown sparked american revolution. wrote government asserts can detain american citizens not because there evidence have committed crime, merely because government wishes investigate them possible wrongdoing . called painful reminder of of ignominious chapters of our national history .

abdullah al-kidd held in maximum security prison 16 days, , in supervised release 13 months. al-kidd born lavoni t. kidd in 1973 in wichita, kansas. when converted islam student @ university of idaho, prominent football player, changed name. asserts ashcroft violated civil liberties american citizen, treated terrorist , not allowed consult attorney. al-kidd s lawyers ashcroft, attorney general, encouraged authorities after 9/11 arrest potential suspects material witnesses when lacked probable cause believe suspects had committed crime.

the supreme court agreed on october 18, 2010 hear case. on may 31, 2011, supreme court unanimously overturned lower court s decision, saying al-kidd not sue ashcroft, protected limited immunity government official. majority of justices held al-kidd not have won case on merits, because ashcroft did not violate fourth amendment rights.

ashcroft has been proponent of war on drugs. in 2001 interview on larry king live, ashcroft announced intention escalate efforts in area. in 2003, ashcroft , john b. brown, acting dea administrator, announced series of indictments resulting 2 nationwide investigations code-named operation pipe dream , operation headhunter. investigations targeted businesses selling drug paraphernalia, cannabis use, under little-used statute (title 21, section 863(a) of u.s. code).

tommy chong, counterculture icon, 1 of charged, part in financing , promoting chong glass/nice dreams, company started son paris. of 55 individuals charged result of operations, chong given prison sentence after conviction (nine months in federal prison, plus forfeiting $103,000 , year of probation). other 54 individuals given fines , home detentions. while doj denied chong treated differently other defendants, critics thought government trying make example of him. chong s experience target of ashcroft s sting operation subject of josh gilbert s feature-length documentary a/k/a tommy chong, premiered @ 2005 toronto international film festival.

when karl rove being questioned in 2005 fbi on leak of covert cia agent s identity in press (the valerie plame affair), ashcroft allegedly briefed investigation. democratic u.s. representative john conyers described stunning ethical breach cries out immediate investigation. conyers, ranking democrat on house judiciary committee, asked, in statement, formal investigation of time between start of rove s investigation , john ashcroft s recusal.

since service in government, ashcroft has continued oppose proposals physician-assisted suicide, states have passed referenda. when interviewed in 2012, when case had reached supreme court after california voters had approved law permit under regulated conditions, said,

i believe people in pain should helped , assisted in every way possible, drugs should used mitigate pain believe law of united states of america requires drugs not used except legitimate health purposes.

in 2015, human rights watch called investigation of ashcroft conspiracy torture other crimes.