After the White House's repeated refusal to help with investigations into the U.S. Attorney firings, Congress had no choice but to try force. Today, the House Judiciary Committee issued subpoenas to former White House counsel Harriet Miers and to the White House; the Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed former White House political director Sara Taylor.
According to the Washington Post, the White House still wants administration officials' testimony to be without a recorded transcript and not under oath (meaning without the risk of perjury charges). Senate Judiciary chairman Patrick Leahy said:
"The White House cannot have it both ways--it cannot stonewall congressional investigations by refusing to provide documents and witnesses while claiming nothing improper occurred" (Washington Post)
In a letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding, House Judiciary chairman John Conyers listed evidence of White House involvement in the U.S. Attorney firings, of "false statements," and of White House failure to cooperate.
Emails released yesterday suggest that White House staff was involved in the firings (WaPo).
See Miers subpoena, White House subpoena, Fielding letter, House Committee's evidence summary, BNP's scandal overview, and a fired U.S. Attorney's interview.
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