Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

December 2, 2008 7:25:10 PM CST

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

White House Stonewalls on Subpoenas

Posted Jun 28, 07 5:35 PM CDT in US,  Politics 

(Newser) – The White House shot down attempts to subpoena internal documents concerning the US attorney firings today by invoking executive privilege. Though not a surprise, the refusal moved the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to accuse the administration of "Nixonian stonewalling." If the committee doesn't back down, the Times reports, the next step is a Congressional resolution on contempt citations.

The White House counsel said the administration was "forced down this unfortunate path"—refusing to turn over documents from the ex-counsel and political affairs director, or allow them to testify. “The president and vice president feel they are above the law," committee chairman Patrick Leahy fumed. Counsel Fred Fielding defended the move, saying 8,500 pages of documents have been released.

Source New York Times

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Bush Directs Aides to Defy Subpoenas

    Jul 10, 07 4:12 AM CDT
    Bush Directs Aides to Defy Subpoenas In an aggressive use of executive privilege, President Bush instructed two of his former aides yesterday to disregard congressional subpoenas demanding they testify about the attorney firings scandal. In a letter to Congress, Bush's counsel rebuffed Democratic senators for encroaching on internal White House affairs, bringing the two branches closer to an possible Supreme Court showdown. More »

  • Leahy Ready to Take White House to Court

    Jul 1, 07 1:48 PM CDT
    Leahy Ready to Take White House to Court Patrick Leahy has a message for White House officials who object to subpoenas issued in the US attorney firing investigation: See you in court. The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman took the dispute over executive privilege to the airwaves today, saying, "If they don't cooperate, yes, I'll go that far" when asked about a congressional vote on contempt charges. More »

  • Senate Seeks E-mails From Gonzales

    May 2, 07 8:35 PM CDT
    Senate Seeks E-mails From Gonzales The Senate demanded all e-mails pertaining to Karl Rove's role in the disputed firing of eight U.S. attorneys from Alberto Gonzales today, setting a May 15 deadline for the attorney general to turn them over. Patrick Leahy, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which  issued the subpoena, disputes the White House's claim that the e-mails have disappeared. More »

Presidential advisor Karl Rove, right, and White House Counsel Fred Fielding, center, leave the Capitol after meeting with senators Thursday, May 24, 2007 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren...   (Associated Press)
Vice President Dick Cheney addresses the National Association of Manufacturers breakfast in Washington in this, Feb. 14, 2007, file photo. The Senate subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick...   (Associated Press)
*Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bush stand in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington in this Nov. 9, 2006, file photo. The Senate subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick...   (Associated Press)
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., right, accompanied by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., discusses the committee's issuance of subpoenas for the legal basis of the Bush administration's...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Our editors also recommend:

The blogosphere reacts

Related links

Threads (
1
 of 4)

Tags

George W. Bush • Congress • White House • House of Representatives • scandals • investigation • US attorney • Patrick Leahy • Senate Democrats • Senate Judiciary Committee • executive privilege • subpoena • Harriet Miers • Fred Fielding • Sara M. Taylor


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular

Loading...

Other Home Stories