I'm seeing some reports from people on the ground in Florida that a story's going to break tomorrow that Juan Gonzales (remember, Elian's poppa?) requested asylum three times from Janet "Roast the Waco Kids" Reno while he was holed up in the Cuban embassy in DC, and was repeatedly denied.

The implications for both the integrity of the INS during the Clinton administration, and Janet's gubernatorial bid, are immense.

[Wednesday morning update]

While it isn't direct confirmation of the original rumor, the Miami Herald is reporting that INS was considering granting asylum to Elian, because there was some evidence that Poppa had requested it for himself. The real news, though, is that Doris Meissner ordered the relevant memo destroyed the day after it was written, and furthermore, ordered that no more written communications on the subject occur.

I wonder if Ms. Meissner's phone logs are available, and if they'll show any calls from the White House?

God knows, I'm no Reno fan, but I'm real skeptical on this one. I don't like the timing.

The Elian cluster **ck happened in 98 or 99. If someone knew that Elian's father, while unguarded and on US territory, had requested asylum and had been repeatedly turned down by Reno (or even by a Reno underling), the information would have come out during the 2000 campaign. It's just too useful against Al "Clinton was the Greatest President" Gore in a tight race. And, of course, the info would have been most damaging in Florida, where the race was arguably the tightest in the history of the US.

To me, the fact that the info wasn't (to my knowledge) used in Florida in 2000 means that it is wrong.

God knows, I'm no Reno fan, but I'm real skeptical on this one. I don't like the timing.

The Elian cluster **ck happened in 98 or 99. If someone knew that Elian's father, while unguarded and on US territory, had requested asylum and had been repeatedly turned down by Reno (or even by a Reno underling), the information would have come out during the 2000 campaign. It's just too useful against Al "Clinton was the Greatest President" Gore in a tight race. And, of course, the info would have been most damaging in Florida, where the race was arguably the tightest in the history of the US.

To me, the fact that the info wasn't (to my knowledge) used in Florida in 2000 means that it is wrong.

Elian floated up Thanksgiving of 1999. I can't imagine how the folks [Reno/Clinton] would spin this... Better for the boy to be 'reunited with his father' ... in Cuba better than in Florida.

Forkin' criminals.

Oh my God!

If this is true, is there some way Reno can be charged with violating the civil rights of the Gonzales family? At the very least, some kind of law suit should be filed.

I believe that such a suit has in fact been filed (just not reported). Unfortunately, I think it was filed by Judicial Watch. And in fact, if this story does break today, it may be via a Judicial Watch press release, which will make it a big yawn to most people, since few people take Larry Klayman seriously any more (including me).

Even if this story isn't true, it's enough of a scandal what Clinton, Reno, Meissner et al did to Elian and his family out in the open. It would be no surprise to learn that Juan Gonzales really did request asylum; but it means little if he did not formally do so, as it was clear that his family would be screwed, and that we wouldn't do anything about it, if he departed from the script.

This is off topic, but why isn't Judicial Watch taken seriously?

Because they never actually complete anything. They were instrumental in uncovering a lot of shady things and obstruction of justice during the Clinton Administration, but they spend a lot more time filing suits than following through and actually winning them.

Did I miss the repeal of the Cuba Adjustment Act? I thought that asylum was automatically granted to any Cuban. (Or at least those who could make it to land, under Clinton's wet feet/dry feet policy...)

Concurring with Carey's post; this would be a nice rumor to pan out as true, but it just doesn't pass the 'smell test' so far. If there is more real facts coming out though, I will sure be interested in reading further.

The only fact to come out so far is that the Clinton's INS destroyed evidence (big shock there...).

But we'll see what else comes out--getting any kind of evidence out of this bunch has always been like pulling teeth.

I actually doubt that this will affect the race--anyone who would care about this is not likely to vote for Reno anyway. She doesn't have a prayer regardless of the outcome of this, though it would be nice to see someone held accountable for handing Elian back into slavery.

OK, hard for facts to come out though, not just because of "that group" but the 2-1 advantage the media give dems over repubs means that (as my grandfather would have said it) "the fix is in". The crusading newspaperman is so much a thing of the past (and not just because of the old gender part of the name. I suppose that you and many other bloggers are the present day "crusaders of truth" now. I wonder when that will become accepted truth. Seems only a matter of time.