by James Oliphant
John Conyers won't let it rest.
Conyers and the House Judiciary Committee he chairs Monday filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C. seeking to hold President Bush's chief of staff and his former lawyer in contempt for not responding to congressional subpoenas.
White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former counsel Harriet Miers were summoned by the committee last year to testify and hand over documents concerning nine U.S. attorneys who were fired by the Justice Department, allegedly for political reasons. Neither complied, saying that they were shielded by executive privilege from disclosing confidential advice given to the president.
In a parisan vote, the House last month declared Miers and Bolten in contempt and referred charges to Atty. Gen Michael Mukasey, who declined to pursue them.
In the civil suit filed Monday, the committee said that the court needed to step in because "the political branches are at an impasse." It seeks to have a judge invalidate any claim of executive privilege and compel Miers to testify and Bolten to provide any documents that are not privileged.
"I do not take this step lightly," Conyers (D-Mich.) said in a statement Monday. "It is extremely rare that Congress must litigate in order to enforce subpoenas and no compromise can be reached. Unfortunately, this administration simply will not negotiate towards a compromise resolution so we must proceed. I look forward to a quick and favorable ruling by the court, so that we can complete our investigation."
At the White House Monday, spokeswoman Dana Perino called the suit "partisan theater." She said the administration would fight to preserve the privilege claim.
"The confidentiality that the president receives from his senior advisers and the constitutional principle of separation of powers must be protected from overreaching," Perino said, "and we are confident that the courts will agree with us."
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Comments
It's about time.
Posted by: bill "Hussein" r. | March 10, 2008 4:13 PM
It's About Freaking Time!
The chickens are coming home to roost for the Bush crime family.
Unfortunately it won't work, you can't let a Bush stacked Republican Judicial system clarify the powers of the Executive branch.
The Dems just need to run out the clock on these GOP criminals and go after them after Jan 09. Americans won't soon forget their crimes and they won't have excutive privledge to hide behind.
This is one of the very first things President Obama should do.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firozeshakir/2047112789/
Posted by: John E | March 10, 2008 4:30 PM
It is about time- I think we have actually gone a full 2-3 weeks since the do nothing congress has floated some type of BS legal action ...
I was getting worried.
Posted by: heartburn | March 10, 2008 4:40 PM
Yeah, Hitler wouldn't let his buddies talk either. Impeach this bastard you chicken-hearted so-called guardians of our Constitution. If Bush is not impeached, the Presidency will forever be immune.
Posted by: proudliberal | March 10, 2008 4:49 PM
What a shock....someone with the name "proud liberal" invokes Hitler when talking about Bush and co.
When will they find a cure for BDS?
Why are we suppposed to be mad again? Is this the AG firings again?
Don't you lefties realize that no one cared then, and no once cares now?
Posted by: JD | March 10, 2008 4:58 PM
Don't you lefties realize that no one cared then, and no once cares now?
Posted by: JD | March 10, 2008 4:58 PM
Yeah who cares about pesky concepts like the rule of law? Let's concentrate on the important stuff like flag pins.
Posted by: Republicant | March 10, 2008 5:19 PM
Big deal. The administration will ignore this and Bush appointed judges will dismiss. When our so-called congressional leadership slaps an impeachment article on Bush, I'll sit up and listen.
Posted by: Rick/Sneads Ferry, NC | March 10, 2008 5:45 PM
No laws were broken, didn't the Daily Kos report that?
Posted by: JD | March 10, 2008 5:53 PM
Boy oh boy! I can't wait for Barack or Hillary to have the royal powers that GW has "acquired." The poopay is really going to hit the fan for Republicans, isn't it kids?
Rev. Wm Hayashi
Posted by: Rev. William Hayashi | March 10, 2008 6:52 PM
I love it!!!
Posted by: Bush/Cheney/Impeach/Imprison | March 10, 2008 7:16 PM
What a shock....someone with the name "proud liberal" invokes Hitler when talking about Bush and co.
When will they find a cure for BDS?
Why are we suppposed to be mad again? Is this the AG firings again?
Don't you lefties realize that no one cared then, and no once cares now?
Posted by: JD | March 10, 2008 4:58 PM
Well, to answer your questions in order:
1) BDS will be auto-cured when Bush stops acting like Hitler or when he's buried, whichever comes first.
2) Yeah right. Trample on rule of law. As long as you're a Republican, it's no big deal, huh?
3) Your first "BINGO" of the day when you equate "Republican" with "No One."
Posted by: Op109 | March 11, 2008 1:12 PM