White House Says No, Conyers Says Yes to Subpoenas

[babylonsister]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0307/White_House_Says_No_Conyers_Says_Yes_to_Subpoenas.html

White House Says No, Conyers Says Yes to Subpoenas

The House Judiciary Committee could vote as early as Tuesday to subpoena Karl Rove, White House deputy chief of staff, and Harriet Miers, former White House counsel, as part of the panel's probe into their role in the recent firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. E-mails released this week show that Rove was aware of Jan. 2005 discussions within the White House to fire all 93 U.S. Attorneys, contradicting earlier White House statements about when and how much Rove was involved in the issue.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) was told by White House Counsel Fred Fielding on Friday that the White House would not turn over documents relating to the prosecutor purge, although Fielding declined to say definitely whether the White House would agree to let Rove, Miers and other officials provide testimony to the committee.

In response, Conyers now says that he will prepare to subpoena Rove, Miers, Scott Jennings, Deputy Political Director Scott Jennings, and William Kelly, the deputy counsel.

Conyers panel could vote on the matter as early as Tuesday, according to Democratic insiders, although it's unclear whether Conyers will seek approval for actual subpoenas or just the authority to subpoena Rove, Miers and the other White House officials.

"The White House Counsel's office advised us this afternoon that the White House would not be providing documents to the Committee, or providing the White House's position with respect to the Committee securing the testimony of White House officials today," Conyers said in a statement released by his office late Friday afternoon. "This is contrary to earlier expectations that the Committee would receive these answers and documents today and is, therefore, very disappointing. The Counsel's office has assured me that they will continue to work in good faith to get answers to those questions by early next week."

Conyers added: "Despite those assurances and my continued hope that the White House will resolve these questions in a cooperative fashion, the Committee must take steps to ensure that we are not being stonewalled or slow walked on this matter. I will schedule a vote to issue subpoenas next week for the documents and officials we need to talk to. Allegations that our criminal justice system has been undermined by partisan politics and that the Congress was deceived about these activities are among the most serious this Congress will consider and we expect immediate answers."

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[Demeter]

1. Subpeona Them Into Submission, Tie Them In Knots!

Make them rue the day they ever thought to raise the Skull and Bones over the ship of state.

[texpatriot2004]

2. I say, "Whitehouse, go Cheney yourself!" nm

[NastyRiffraff]

3. Yeah! Haul their lying asses before Congress

Drag them kicking and screaming if you have to. Then charge them when (not if) they lie.

[ProudDad]

4. Welcome to the seminal event

that will lead to the impeachment of gwb and the dickster...

If I were in a pool I'd say by early December of '07

[Hepburn]

5. In a phrase...

.."so, screw 'em." Subpoena everyone and everything and if they don't like it, them let them fight it...and have the Dems fight hard back at them.

You know, that is basically IMO what tipped the scales against Nixon ~~ when he tried to keep things hidden...and he lost.

IMO, the best thing that could happen is for Conyers to get those subpoenas issued and for the WH to resist. Why? Because legal maneuvers are one thing the general public does not always understand and things like this catch their attention with the question, "So if they have nothing to hide, why are they fighting this?"

Best thing IMO that could happen on the road to impeachment is for the WH to stonewall complying with those document subpoenas and trying to keep people like Rove from testifying.

JMHO

[Cooley Hurd]

6. On MTP today, Schumer said it's unlikely any claim of exec priv...

...would stick, and Rove will LIKELY have to testify!:woohoo:

[jazzjunkysue]

7. This is the Titanic's iceburg. I'm emailing Conyers now to thank him,

I suggest we give him all the support we can.
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