http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/300872,CST-NWS-pros17.articleMarch 17, 2007
BY LAURIE KELLMAN
WASHINGTON -- The White House dropped its contention Friday that former Counsel Harriet Miers first raised the idea of firing U.S. attorneys, blaming ''hazy memories'' as e-mail shed new light on Karl Rove's role. Support eroded further for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Presidential press secretary Tony Snow previously had asserted Miers was the person who came up with the idea, but he said Friday, ''I don't want to try to vouch for origination.'' He said, ''At this juncture, people have hazy memories.''
Subpoenas next week?
The Justice Department released e-mails Thursday night pulling the White House deeper into an investigation into whether eight firings were a purge of prosecutors deemed unenthusiastic about presidential goals. Asked if Bush might have suggested the firings, Snow said: ''Anything's possible ... but I don't think so.'' He said Bush ''certainly has no recollection of any such thing. I can't speak for the attorney general.''
The White House said it needed more time before deciding whether Miers, political strategist Rove and other presidential advisers would testify before Congress and whether the White House would release documents.