Gitter Max (1 results)
More imagesORIGINAL COPY OF SPIRO AGNEW'S LEGAL BRIEF ENJOINING THE COURT TO HALT GRAND JURY INVESTIGATIONS INTO HIS ACTIVITIES: "UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MARYLAND. In re Proceedings of the Grand Jury Impaneled December 5, 1972: Application of Spiro T. Agnew, Vice President of the United States. [Misc. No. 73-]. MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF MOTION."
(Agnew, Spiro T). (Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison Law Firm). Topkis, Jay H.; Gitter, Max; London, Martin.
Published by Washington, DC, September 28, 1973., 1973
- Softcover
Seller: Blue Mountain Books & Manuscripts, Ltd., Cadyville, NY, U.S.A.Blue Mountain Books & Manuscripts, Ltd.
Contact seller5-star sellerCondition: Fine. Washington, DC, September 28, 1973., 1973. Fine. - Quarto, 11 inches high by 8-1/2 inches wide. Softcovers, printed light blue paper wraps bound with a dark blue plastic spine. 24 mechanically reproduced pages printed on one side of each sheet. Fine. Included with the brief are copies of arguments presented to t…he House of Representatives favoring an impeachment inquiry: 1) "Why the Calhoun Precedent Governs and the Colfax Precedent does not". [2 mechanically reproduced folio pages]. and 2) "General Arguments as to Why House of Representatives Should Not Defer to Grand Jury Proceedings". [2 mechanically reproduced folio pages]. Each are printed on 13 inch high by 8-1/2 inch wide sheets stapled at top left. There is minor faint creasing to the top edges as the pages of the "arguments" overlap the brief. RARE. Unbeknownst to the public and most of the Nixon administration a grand jury had been impaneled on December 5, 1972 and a federal investigation into political corruption in Maryland was underway. The investigation focused on Spiro Agnew's activities as Baltimore County Executive and as Governor of Maryland. It was found that Agnew had accepted bribes and kickbacks from contractors in exchange for public service contracts. In September of 1973 Agnew engaged the K Street law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Martin London became his lead attorney. London, together with Jay H. Topkis and Max Gitter drafted a "Memorandum In Support of Motion" addressing the question as to whether it would be constitutional to indict or criminally try a sitting Vice President. The memorandum puts forth historical arguments as to why "the constitution bars a criminal proceeding against the Vice President of the United States". In the meantime, following a precedent set in 1826 by Vice President John C. Calhoun, Agnew asked the House of Representatives to initiate an impeachment investigation into bribery charges. The hope was that his name would be cleared by such an investigation. However Speaker Carl Albert, after consulting the parliamentarian and other members, denied Agnew's request on September 26, 1973 stating that the request "relates to matters before the courts. In view of that fact I, as Speaker, will not take any action.at this time". On October 5, 1973 Solicitor General Robert Bork responded negatively to Agnew's request to enjoin the grand jury proceedings investigating him. He provided the United States District Court for the District of Maryland with a brief stating that "considerations based upon the Constitution's text, history, and rationale which indicate that all civil officers of the United States other than the President are amenable to the federal criminal process either before or after the conclusion of impeachment proceedings." Spiro Agnew resigned from his office on October 10, 1973 pleading no contest to a single charge of tax evasion.
