"Allowing courts to review the question of immunity is meaningless when the same legislation essentially requires the court to grant immunity, " said Feingold, who sits on the Senate Intelligence and Judiciary committees.

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The committee, of course, could grant immunity from prosecution to Goodling in order to get her testimony.

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It also can grant immunity to witnesses, a gift that assures the prosecution of evidence when it needs it.

FORBES: Leveling the playing field: Immunized Witnesses for the Defense

For one thing, while there is a federal statute empowering judges to grant immunity at the request of prosecutors, there is no equivalent for defense-requested witness immunity.

FORBES: Leveling the playing field: Immunized Witnesses for the Defense

Starr doesn't want to grant immunity unless she talks first.

CNN: Tripp's Turn to Talk

American defense officials now have to assess how much damage Mr. Karzai's allegations will have on their plans, already threatened by discord over whether to grant immunity from prosecution to U.S. troops and by the Afghan leader's refusal to negotiate with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

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Thompson needs to get at least two Democratic votes to get a two-thirds majority, required for any grant of immunity.

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Franco says he did not tell federal investigators this bizarre, and unverifiable, story because they would not grant him immunity.

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Maryland State Prosecutor Stephen Montanarelli testified Wednesday his office "could have done more" to make certain its evidence was not linked to sources protected by Tripp's grant of immunity.

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So Thompson wants to grant them immunity from prosecution.

CNN: Senate Democrats Won't Allow Immunity For Funds Witnesses

According to some Egypt-watchers, the military generals, realizing that the Brotherhood's candidate Mohamed Mursi will be the winner of the presidential race, are now seeking to strike a deal on a "safe exit", which would grant them immunity against prosecution.

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Correspondents say he is unwilling to grant US soldiers immunity from prosecution and is unhappy that Afghans are still being held in US-run military prisons on Afghan soil.

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In such a situation, what the defendant needs, of course, is a grant of at least use-immunity for his witness.

FORBES: Leveling the playing field: Immunized Witnesses for the Defense