Senate Headed for Showdown with White House

Photo from source, RawStory.com

My tightly crossed fingers may be cramping, hoping that Congress shows some cojones, but they got a little relief with the news that the Senate may actually start playing hardball with the White House. It's pretty cut-and-dry, this case.

Regardless why the White House doesn't want to comply, or what specifically the subpoenas are for, you simply must appear when called.

You can refuse to comply once there, and you might get away with it. But to not show up at all? To have the Senate address an empty chair? If the Senate lets them get away with this, they have lost what little credibility they may have left.

If let to die, this issue will come up again with future administrations, and then there will be precedent. Congressional subpoenas, and the concept of Contempt of Congress will be meaningless. So do it, Senators! Do it!

[excerpt]

White House, Senate headed for subpoena showdown

The Bush Administration and a Senate committee have entered an apparent standoff as the White House failed to meet a 2:30 p.m. deadline from the Senate Judiciary Committee, which seeks compliance with subpoenas related to President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program. The committee's chairman threatened criminal charges if the administration continues to withhold requested documents.

"We should not have to legislate in the dark when the administration hides behind a fictitious veil of secrecy," Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said at a Capitol Hill press conference Monday afternoon.

The Vermont Senator said he'll begin contempt proceedings in the Judiciary Committee if the Bush administration does not comply with the subpoenas by the end of the current congressional recess. A majority of Judiciary Committee members would have to endorse the decision to begin criminal proceedings before the full Senate could consider pursuing prosecution. . .

Read more at: RawStory.com