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Ex-Aide Stays Tight Lipped on Attorneys

Sara Taylor respects former boss's executive privilege claim

By Greg Atwan,  Newser User

Posted Jul 11, 2007 3:32 PM CDT

(Newser) – 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.

Democratic senators seized the opportunity to scold the president; Chairman Patrick Leahy called Taylor's silence symptomatic of a White House that "feels that it does not have to explain itself to anyone," and several opined that Bush's use of executive privilege to shield deliberations at Justice was undermined by Taylor's testimony that he wasn't involved.

President Bush' former political director Sara Taylor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the fired federal prosecutors.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
President Bush' former political director Sara Taylor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the fired federal prosecutors....   (Associated Press)
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales stands in the background...
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales stands in the background...   (Getty Images (by Event))
President Bush' former political director Sara Taylor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the fired federal prosecutors.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
President Bush' former political director Sara Taylor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 11, 2007, before the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the fired federal prosecutors....   (Associated Press)
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