Progress on those White House Subpoenas?

by Deb Cupples |   Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee released the following statement:

"Today, United States District Judge John Bates denied the Administration’s request for a stay of his July 31 ruling that no White House official is immune from Congressional subpoena.  The effect of the denial of the stay is that Harriet Miers must appear and testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding her role in the politicization of the Department of Justice, including the firing of U.S. Attorneys in 2006.

"The Judge’s July 31 order also requires the White House to produce unprivileged documents on this subject and a reasonable description of any documents being withheld on grounds of Executive Privilege.  In denying the stay, the Court observed: 

'Simply calling an issue important . . . does not transform the Executive’s weak arguments into a likelihood of success' on their appeal. (Memorandum Opinion at 4.) 

"Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr.  (D-MI) released the following statement regarding the court’s decision:

 

“'Today's ruling clearly rejects the White House's efforts to run out the clock on the Committee's investigation of DOJ politicization this Congress.  I am heartened that Judge Bates recognized that the public interest in this matter is best served by the furtherance of the Committee’s investigation,'  Conyers said.  'The Committee intends to promptly schedule a hearing with Ms. Miers and stands ready as always to consider any reasonable offer of accommodation with the White House.'”

White House counsel Fred Fielding isn't exactly stupid.   In fact, he's quite clever.  It'll be interesting to see what sort of means Mr. Fielding comes up with to keep Ms. Miers from actually testifying before the Judiciary Committee.

The White House always does seem to find a way to get around congressional oversight.

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