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House Committee Charges Bush Aides With Contempt

Judiciary Committee votes along party lines to issue contempt citations to Harriet Miers and Joshua Bolten

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Jul 25, 2007 3:16 PM CDT

(Newser) – The House Judiciary Committee voted to issue contempt citations to two of President Bush's top aides for defying subpoenas related to the US attorney firings scandal, edging Congress closer to a Constitutional showdown with the White House over its claims of executive privilege. The committee voted along party lines 22-17 to charge Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers.

The White House has indicated it will make every effort to block prosecution of Bolten and Miers, who it says must protect details of internal deliberations from the congressional probe. Congress' next move would be a vote in the entire House, followed by a referral to the US attorney for the District of Columbia, WaPo reports.

A witness chair sits empty on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 12, 2007, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the firing of eight U. S. attorneys. The House panel began clearing the way Thursday for contempt proceedings against former White House counsel Harriet Miers after she obeyed President...
A witness chair sits empty on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, July 12, 2007, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the firing of eight U. S. attorneys. The House panel began clearing the...   (Associated Press)
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., left, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas take part in a full committee markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, for a proposed contempt citation against two White House aides who have refused to comply with subpoenas on the firings...
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., left, and Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas take part in a full committee markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, for a...   (Associated Press)
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., uses his gavel at the start of a full committee markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, for a proposed contempt citation against two White House aides who have refused to comply with subpoenas on the firings of federal...
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., uses his gavel at the start of a full committee markup, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2007, for a proposed contempt...   (Associated Press)
President Bush, left, waves as he walks with White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, prior before to leaving the White House for events in the West and an Easter break at his Texas ranch. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Bush, left, waves as he walks with White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, prior before to leaving the White House for events in the West and an Easter break at his Texas ranch. (AP Photo/J....   (Associated Press)
White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 3, 2007, following meetings with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten leaves Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 3, 2007, following meetings with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. and Senate Majority Leader Harry...   (Associated Press)
Former White House counsel Harriet Miers waves as she walks into the White House after withdrawing her nomination as Supreme Court justice in this Oct. 27, 2005, file photo in the face of stiff opposition about her qualifications. President George W. Bush ordered Miers to defy a congressional subpoena and...
Former White House counsel Harriet Miers waves as she walks into the White House after withdrawing her nomination as Supreme Court justice in this Oct. 27, 2005, file photo in the face of stiff opposition...   (Associated Press)
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House Judiciary Committee Memo on Contempt Citations Against Miers and Bolten
Washington Post

US • Politics

 
Bush administration • Congress • US attorney • Democrats • Republican • Harriet Miers • executive privilege • contempt • Josh Bolten • US attorney firings • District of Columbia • contempt of congress • constitutional showdown • Constitution • George W. Bush

 
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