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Leahy Ready to Take White House to Court

Senator stands behind subpoenas in US attorney probe

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Jul 1, 2007 1:48 PM CDT
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(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.

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. S. attorneys. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
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. (AP Photo/Meet the Press, Alex Wong)
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 domestic surveillance program, Wednesday, June 27, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
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)
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Watch a segment of Leahy's interview on "Meet the Press"
MSNBC

The Washington Post's coverage of the investigation
Washington Post

The New York Times editorial board is steamed
New York Times

The House and Senate judiciary committees air their curiousity about the White House's reasoning
Jurist

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

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