Buzzflash: Ample Precedent for White House Testimony

[demobabe]

Dear Chairman Leahy and Chairman Conyers:

Yesterday, President Bush asserted that the White House would give Congress "unprecedented" access to information regarding the Administration's recent dismissal of U.S. Attorneys. This statement is misinformed. As you continue discussions with the White House regarding your investigation of the U.S. Attorneys matter, I wanted to bring to your attention relevant precedent.

The President said yesterday that he would not allow White House aides including Senior Advisor to the President Karl Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers, deputy counsel William Kelley, and political aide J. Scott Jennings testify under oath and on the record about the dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys. Contrary to the President's contention, there is extensive precedent for officials in these positions to appear before Congress.

When Republicans controlled Congress during the Clinton Administration, they routinely insisted that White House officials appear before Congress. During the prior Administration, a series of White House Counsels testified to congressional committees publicly and under oath:

-- In 1994, White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter.<1> In 1996, he was deposed under oath on two separate days by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of the White Travel Office investigation.<2>

-- In 1994, White House Counsel Lloyd Cutler testified before the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs regarding the "Whitewater" matter.<3>

-- In 1997, White House Counsel Jack Quinn was deposed under oath by the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.<4>

-- In 1997, White House Counsel Charles Ruff testified before the House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight as part of an investigation into campaign finance activities.<5> Mr. Ruff testified again before the Committee in 2000 as part of an investigation into the White House email system.<6> Mr. Ruff also testified before the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs as part of the Committee's 1997-1998 investigation into campaign finance activities.<7>

-- In 2000, White House Counsel Beth Nolan testified before the House Committee on Government Reform as part of an investigation into the White House email system.<8> Ms. Nolan testified again before the Committee in 2001 as part of an investigation into President Clinton's pardon decisions.<9>

Read the full article here: http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/210

[BuyingThyme]

1. kcik

[demobabe]

2. kick

:kick: