Court Rules White House Aides Must Testify

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Well, what do you know? The claim of executive privilege that Harriet Miers, Josh Bolten and Karl Rove have used as an excuse to refuse to comply with Congressional subpoenas has been shot down. Now, Rove is saying he never exerted such a claim. OK then, Turd Blossom. . .what is your excuse?

Crossing my fingers very hard on this one. . .

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Senate Reacts To Court Ruling With New Call For Testimony From Rove And Bolton

Just hours after a federal judge shot down the White House's claim to sweeping immunity from Congressional oversight, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) fired off a round of letters renewing his demand for testimony from Karl Rove and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman sent a letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding asking whether the two officials will agree to testify in light of today's ruling against the Bush administration's blanket claim of executive privilege. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker

Attorney General Refuses Contempt Citations

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The "rule of law" party--as Republicans like to refer to themselves--is officially a farce, if it wasn't already. Attorney General Michael Mukasey has refused to order a Grand Jury on the contempt of Congress citations against Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers.

The case is pretty straightforward. Bolten and Miers were subpoenaed to appear before Congress. They ignored the subpoenas, and simply didn't show up. That's contempt of Congress, pure and simple. They claimed "executive privilege," but plainly are not President or even Vice President (and even Dick Cheney claims to be apart from the Executive Branch).

Mukasey's argument seems to hinge on the fact that George W. Bush told them not to go, so it's OK. WHAT? This stinks on ice, and I'm not only hoping, but imploring Nancy Pelosi to take this as far as she can.

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Mukasey refuses probe of Bush aides

Attorney General Michael Mukasey refused Friday to refer the House's contempt citations against two of President Bush's top aides to a federal grand jury. Mukasey said White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former presidential counsel Harriet Miers committed no crime.

As promised, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she has given the Judiciary Committee authority to file a lawsuit against Bolten and Miers in federal court. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Nancy Pelosi Wants Grand Jury for Bolton, Miers

Photo from source, CNN

Yay!

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House speaker seeks grand jury probe of 2 Bush aides

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday requested that a federal grand jury be appointed to investigate whether a top White House official and former official should be prosecuted for contempt of Congress. . .

Read more at: CNN

John Conyers Introduces Contempt Resolution

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Well, how do you do. The Senate is royally ticking me off these days, but my hopes have been lifted by the House of Representatives, where the telecom immunity thingy might be disposed of. Hey, at least they stood up to Bush, and that's something.

And now, finally, John Conyers is introducing a contempt resolution. What's that, you might ask? You may be forgiven, since it was so many scandals ago. Once upon a time, the Congress subpoenaed Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton to appear before Congress. They didn't show up. That's not legal, but they claimed "Executive Privilege," even though they are definitely not the President. Many liberals like myself have long worried that this would just be swept under the rug with the administration's other transgressions. And that must be one lumpy rug by now.

Anyway, not only have they introduced this resolution, they have also thought of a way around the AG's assertion that he will not follow through on it. Good on you, John Conyers! Now sink your teeth in, and don't let go.

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Conyers Introduces Contempt Resolution, Call for Lawsuit against White House

As expected, things are finally moving forward in the House today to bring contempt resolutions against White House officials for ignoring Congressional subpoenas as part of the U.S. attorney firings investigation. . .

Read on (it's good) at: TPM Muckraker

Karl Rove Worthy of Contempt

Has there ever been a statement that was more true than this headline? I have to tell you, despite the thick layer of cynicism that has encrusted my lefty liberal heart, I get a bit of a warm glow from this news. It may (probably will) come to nothing, but I'm going to cross my fingers (and all my other crossible body parts) that this goes all the way.

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Senators vote to hold Bush chief of staff, Rove in contempt

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to hold two top aides to President Bush in contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in its probe of fired federal prosecutors.

On a largely party-line vote of 11-7, the Democratic-led panel sent contempt citations against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to the full Senate for consideration. . .

Read more at: Raw Story