Lawsuit Abuse Week Continues

I heard today that G.O.P. congressional leaders have named this "Lawsuit Abuse Week" (or some such) in connection with some b.s. tort reform bill they're pushing at the behest of their benevolent masters. So I think I'll focus on G.O.P. abuses of the judicial system this week.

Conman Connie Black isn't the only wingnut with a frivolous filing this week. Accused hacker Manny Miranda has filed suit against the Justice Department and the Secret Service to stop them from investigating him:

WASHINGTON - A former Senate staffer filed a federal lawsuit Monday to stop an investigation into how Republicans obtained computer memos taken from Democrats' machines.

Manuel Miranda asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to stop a Justice Department and Secret Service investigation into whether a crime was committed when he and another of Sen. Orrin Hatch's former employees got Democratic documents from a computer server shared by both sides. Miranda worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Hatch, R-Utah, is chairman.

Miranda said in papers filed Monday that the investigation was solely to hide senators' own wrongdoing.

"Senators used all their official power and their influence over the press to disguise their own wrongdoing, by systematically accusing plaintiff of escalating degrees of criminality," the pleading said.

At the same time, it said, "Other senators failed to defend the plaintiff, a loyal staff aide, and failed to address the apparent misconduct of their Senate colleagues, appearing more interested in avoiding criticism to themselves."

Named as defendants were Attorney General John Ashcroft and Ralph Basham, director of the Secret Service.

...

The court should "issue a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining defendants, their employees, agents, grand juries and all persons in active concert or participation with any of them from investigating, indicting or prosecuting the plaintiff," Miranda said.

If any court finds merit to this lawsuit, we're all well and truly fucked, Cheney-style.

The interesting question will be whether Asscrack Justice smacks Manny down, as hard as he deserves, or whether it rolls over to protect one of its own.