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Committee Votes to Hold Rove, Bolten in Contempt

Posted Dec 13, 07 12:37 PM CST in US 

(Newser) – The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to hold Karl Rove and Josh Bolten in contempt today, the AP reports, for ignoring subpoenas on the US attorneys scandal. The White House, however, says the citations will likely die on the Senate floor. “I vote knowing that it’s highly likely to be a meaningless act,” Sen. Arlen Specter said. “In this context, we have no alternative.”

Specter was one of two Republicans to cross party lines in the 12-7 vote to cite the presidential confidants. Even if the bill gets past the Senate, the resulting legal battle would likely outlive the Bush presidency, hashing out complicated debates on executive privilege. “They should be fully aware of the futility of pressing ahead on this,” a White House spokesman said.

Source Associated Press

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., ranking Republican on the committee, left, listen to comments during the committee's executive business...   (Associated Press)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., left, confers with Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, during a Senate Judiciary Committee's executive business meeting...   (Associated Press)
Outgoing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove waves as he leaves the White House in Washington, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007, on his last day as President Bush's deputy chief of staff. (AP Photo/Ron...   (Associated Press)
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Bush administration  • Senate  • Karl Rove  • Senate Judiciary Committee  • US attorney firings  • Arlen Specter  • Josh Bolten


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