Nick Juliano
RAW STORY
White House senior adviser Karl Rove has rebuked a Senate Judiciary
Committee subpoena and will not appear Thursday to testify about his
role in the firing of nine US Attorneys, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said
late Wednesday.
The Senate Judiciary chairman chided the White House for allowing
Rove to give public speeches about the attorney firing scandal but not
permit his testimony under oath.
“Mr. Rove has given reasons for the firings that have now been shown
to be inaccurate after-the-fact fabrications,” Leahy said in a
statement. “Yet, he now refuses to tell this Committee the truth about
his role in targeting well-respected U.S. Attorneys for firing and in
seeking to cover up his role and that of his staff in the scandal.”
The House Judiciary Committee initiated criminal contempt of
Congress charges against former White House counsel Harriet Miers and
Chief of Staff Joshua Bolton last month after they refused to comply
with subpoenas demanding their testimony.
It remains unclear whether Rove will face similar charges. A Judiciary Committee spokeswoman told RAW STORY
Wednesday night that if Rove followed through in refusing to testify,
the committee could decide to issue criminal charges later. The aide
said no decisions had been made yet.
“It is a shame that this White House continues to act as if it
is above the law. That is wrong,” Leahy said. “The subpoenas authorized
by this Committee in connection with its investigation into the mass
firings of U.S. Attorneys and the corrosion of federal law enforcement
by White House political influence deserve respect and compliance.”
Scott Jennings, the White House deputy director of political
affairs, is expected to appear before the committee Thursday, but his
testimony will be limited by Bush’s claim of executive privilege.
A letter to the Judiciary Committee from White House counsel Fred F.
Fielding claimed Rove “is immune from compelled congressional testimony
about matters that arose during his tenure (as an immediate
presidential adviser) and that relate to his official duties in that
capacity.”
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