Legislative Proposal Would Make It Illegal For President To Lie To Push For War

Legislative Proposal Would Make It Illegal For Presiden ... (Added: February 04, 2009)

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By Jim Niedelman
Published: February 04, 2009

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If North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones has his way, it would be against the law for the president of the United States to lie to gain support for sending the military to war.

Representative Jones introduced the “Executive Accountability Act.”

It would make it a crime to knowingly and willfully mislead Congress into authorizing the use of military force.

The president and members of the executive branch could be fined and sentenced up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

The law would extend the statue of limitations for prosecuting this type of case.

Prosecutors would have five years to file charges once the president leaves office.

It would only apply to the Obama administration and future administrations, but not to the Bush administration.

Nine On Your Side asked Representative Jones why he’s acting now considering that the Bush administration has been accused of the very thing he addresses in his bill.

"I don't deal in the past. I deal with the present and the future. I might have learned experience from the past, but this is talking about today and tomorrow," said Rep. Walter B. Jones, (R) North Carolina Third District.

At the moment, the “Executive Accountability Act” has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Jones says he hopes the committee will at least bring it up for a hearing.