What's the precedent for WH officials testifying before Congress?

[hiaasenrocks]

I know there are some cases. Just can't think of them right now.

On another note, Chris Matthews just said he agreed with Bush that this could turn into a "partisan fishing expedition." Matthews said he can see the Democrats getting someone under oath and they'd be there a month answering questions on all kinds of issues. He also used the phrase "Democrat majority" earlier. He's too obvious...

[Old and In the Way]

1. Glad you asked....

From Thinkprogress-

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/03/20/white-house-testify/

Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) has called on Karl Rove and other top White House aides to testify under oath in front of Congress concerning their role in the U.S. attorney purge. A response from White House Counsel Fred Fielding is expected today, but in the meantime, the White House and its allies have put up a fight, arguing that presidential advisers have historically not testified in front of Congress:

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow: Well, as you know, Ed, it has been traditional in all White Houses not to have staffers testify on Capitol Hill. <3/13/07>

White House Counselor Dan Bartlett: I find it highly unlikely that a member of the White House staff would testify publicly to these matters. <3/13/07>

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH): No, I think you’re violating a precedent there that should not be violated. … I believe that under the separation of powers, there are limits to the extent to which Congress can subpoena or demand testimony from those who were closest to the president. <3/15/07>

But in reality, there is no such precedent. According to the Congressional Research Service, under President Clinton, 31 of his top aides testified on 47 different occasions. The aides who testified included some of Clinton’s closest advisors:

Harold Ickes, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff - 7/28/94

George Stephanopoulos, Senior Adviser to the President for Policy and Strategy - 8/4/94

John Podesta, Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary - 8/5/94

Bruce R. Lindsey, Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel to the President - 1/16/96

Samuel Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs - 9/11/97

Beth Nolan, Counsel to the President - 5/4/00

In contrast, between 2000 and 2004, Bush allowed only one of his closest advisers, then-Assistant to the President for Homeland Security Tom Ridge, to appear in front of Congress. He has also refused three invitations from Congress for his aides to testify, a first since President Richard Nixon in 1972. Clinton did not refuse any.

[hiaasenrocks]

2. Thank you very much! n/t

[Roland99]

5. Something tells me that info will be fired off to rebut many a rwingnut talking point.

[aquart]

9. Excellent. Thank you!

I just passed it on to everyone on my list.

Nothing like having the facts in hand.

[philly_bob]

13. In Monicagate, Republicans made Clinton's Secret Service testify

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/05/22/lewinsky.scandal/

Oooh, this is getting good.

Thank you CSPAN.

[SoCalDem]

3. republicans had NO PROBLEM making Clinton people testify

Said the Goose to the gander...."Pass the sauce"

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

4. What about John Dean, Bob Haldeman and John Erlichmann during

the Senate Watergate Hearings in 1973? They all testified and under oath.

Just who the fuck do these present day assholes in the WH think they are?

As for Tweety isn't is obvious KKKarl got the talking points out before Chucklenut's appearance.

I am sooo angry right now....

[kestrel91316]

7. THANK YOU. That's what I was gonna say.

[Terri S]

6. Keith has John Dean on a lot

should be interesting to see if he invites him in on this one to offer his opinions on chimpy's speech.

[kestrel91316]

8. Dean. Haldeman. Ehrlichman. Watergate.

Bush simply can't have a repeat of that.

[aquart]

10. But he will. He IS.

[BuyingThyme]

11. According to Rachel Maddow, Bill Clinton's advisers testified 47 times.

Including his chiefs of staff, I believe.

[The Count]

12. Tweety only likes fishing expeditions in Clinton's pants - his career is based on

that one. What can he say? Of course, THEN, the matters were vital - like "did you look for a job for Ms Lewinski?" The country simply couldn't go on without knowing the truth about those!
Also, interesting enough, I don't remember MSM using terms such as "political fishing expedition" then. They were only saying "Nobody is above the law". Kinda what's the point today.