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

September 5, 2008 12:15:45 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

Leahy Ready to Take White House to Court

Posted Jul 1, 07 1:48 PM CDT in US,  Politics 

(Newser) – 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.

Leahy, a former prosecutor, appeared on "Meet the Press," wrapping up a week in which Congress and the administration swapped subpoenas and assertions of executive privilege relating to the prosecutor firings and the domestic wiretapping program. A contempt vote would land the US attorney dispute in court, setting up a constitutional showdown.

Source Associated Press

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

Related Newser Stories

  • Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying

    Oct 18, 07 8:31 PM CDT
    Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying Michael Mukasey remained mum today on whether interrogation methods such as waterboarding constitute torture. But the president’s nominee for attorney general spoke out in favor of the White House’s eavesdropping program, the NY Times reports, frustrating and confusing Democrats on the second day of his confirmation hearings. Mukasey argued the president’s constitutional authority may allow him to supersede congressional law. More »

  • Bush Aide Stonewalls Senators

    Aug 2, 07 3:29 PM CDT
    Bush Aide Stonewalls Senators Karl Rove didn't show up, but the White House sent a 29-year-old aide to field Senate Judiciary Committee questions about the US attorney firings today. Scott Jennings, the first administration figure to testify while still in office, followed the path laid out by ex-boss Sara Taylor in refusing to answer substantive questions, reports the AP. More »

  • Ex-Aide Stays Tight Lipped on Attorneys

    Jul 11, 07 3:32 PM CDT
    Ex-Aide Stays Tight Lipped on Attorneys Former White House political adviser Sara Taylor never discussed the ouster of nine US attorneys with President Bush, she told the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The subpoenaed Taylor said little else about the Justice Department scandal, citing executive privilege, but waffled occasionally between discretion and disclosure—for instance apologizing for having called one fired attorney "lazy" in an email. More »

  • Bush Aide Will Invoke Exec Privilege

    Jul 11, 07 5:32 AM CDT
    Bush Aide Will Invoke Exec Privilege Former Bush political director Sara Taylor will answer limited questions from Congress but steer clear of anything she thinks would violate executive privilege, according to a copy of her opening statement released early this morning. Taylor is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today as part of its inquiry into the US attorney firings. More »

  • 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 »

Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty testifies before the House Judiciary Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington Thursday, June 21, 2007 on the firing of eight U....   (Associated Press)
In this photograph provided by "Meet the Press", Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., speaks during a taping of "Meet the Press" at the NBC Studios Sunday, July 1, 2007 in Washington....   (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

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

George W. Bush  • Bush administration  • White House  • Patrick Leahy  • Senate Judiciary Committee  • executive privilege  • US attorneys scandal  • subpoena


Loading...

Premium Articles from HighBeam

Find more articles like this

Today's Most Popular


Other Home Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »