FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2004
Contact: Jeffrey
Mazzella
703.535.5836
CFIF
Urges Kerry-Kennedy Presidential Campaign to Come Clean
on Plot to Manipulate Michigan Affirmative Action Case
Senator
Kerrys Campaign Manager was aware of scheme to manipulate
6th Circuit panel hearing the case
ALEXANDRIA,
VA In a letter to presidential candidate John Kerry (linked
below), the Center for Individual Freedom today urged him to immediately
come clean on Mary Beth Cahills (his campaign manager) involvement
in the plot to manipulate the outcome of the University of Michigan
affirmative action cases then pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 6th Circuit. CFIF also demanded that Kerry publicly
condemn the actions of Senator Kennedys office and his former
staff who participated in the plot, and urged him to call for Cahills
immediate resignation.
"John
Kerry, as the standard bearer of his party seeking the highest and
most respected office in the land, has an obligation to the American
people to reveal Cahills involvement in this matter,"
said Jeffrey Mazzella, the Centers Executive Director. "At
the time, Cahill was Senator Kennedys Chief of Staff. If she
did nothing to halt the unethical behavior of those working under
her, she is culpable in the matter. This clearly doesnt bode
well for John Kerry and the publics trust in his ability to
lead."
In
an April 6 news story (linked below), CFIF disclosed that Olati
Johnson and Melody Barnes, two former aides to Senator Edward Kennedy,
were responsible for the April 17, 2002, memo (linked below) recommending
he delay confirmation proceedings for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons
in an effort to manipulate the outcome of the University of Michigan
affirmative action cases then pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 6th Circuit. In a follow-up story published today in The
Washington Times (linked below), Charles Hurt reported that
the memo was carbon copied to five other Kennedy aides, including
Cahill.
"This
scandal is quickly evolving into one of the most egregious in the
history of the United States Senate," said Mazzella. "Given
Senator Kennedys active involvement in the Kerry campaign
and Cahills knowledge and possible involvement in Memogate,
Kerry should immediately and publicly address this issue.
"What
was yesterday a dark cloud of corruption hanging over Senator Kennedys
office is today raining on John Kerrys campaign," Mazzella
concluded.
(Senator
Kennedy serves as Co-Chair of the Kerry for President National Steering
Committee.)
The
Center for Individual Freedom is a nonpartisan constitutional advocacy
group that fights to protect individual freedom and rights in the
legal, legislative and educational arenas. Since 2001, the Centers
Confirmation Watch project has worked to expose and eliminate the
corruption and manipulation that plagues the judicial confirmation
process.
###
|