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Republican Grassley Backs Subpoenas for Rove, Miers    [

    White House Aides Face More Potential Subpoenas
    By Thomas Ferraro
    Reuters

    Thursday 22 March 2007

    Washington - A second U.S. congressional panel authorized subpoenas of White House aides on Thursday, with Democrats pushing to expand a high-stakes probe into the firing of federal prosecutors.

    The Senate Judiciary Committee, on a voice vote, cleared the way for subpoenas of Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's chief political strategist, and others if they refuse to voluntarily provide sworn testimony to Congress.

    A House Judiciary subcommittee authorized subpoenas on Wednesday, but so far none has been issued.

    Bush has vowed to oppose any attempt to compel aides to testify under oath in probes into whether last year's dismissal of eight of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys was politically motivated.

    The president this week offered to have his aides meet with lawmakers under conditions that Democrats and even some of Bush's fellow Republicans have called unacceptable.

    "We're told that we can have a closed-door meeting with no transcript, not under oath, limited number of people, and the White House will determine what the agenda is. That, to me, is nothing," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who chairs the Judiciary Committee.

    "I know he (Bush) is 'the decider' at the White House. He is not the decider for the United States Senate," he said.

    House of Representatives Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio said the White House had made a "good-faith effort" to provide Congress with the information it needed but that "Democrats on Capitol Hill want a political sideshow."

    Without a compromise, a lengthy court fight could ensue, possibly lasting until after Bush leaves office in January 2009. Republicans and Democrats have urged that common ground be sought.

    Any court battle probably would turn on the issue of executive privilege, a legal doctrine invoked occasionally throughout U.S. history to shield presidents and their aides from having to answer questions or turn over information to Congress or grand juries.

    Simmering

    White House spokesman Tony Snow said, "We're going to let this thing simmer a little bit."

    He said the White House had made a good-faith offer and added, "We're not trying to run from things."

    "The offer is on the table. They issue subpoenas, it's off the table. But they haven't issued subpoenas," Snow said.

    The Senate committee authorized subpoenas of Rove along with former White House counsel Harriet Miers and deputy White House counsel William Kelley.

    Investigators are particularly interested in Rove. One of his former aides replaced a fired prosecutor, who later told ousted colleagues the administration might retaliate if they complained.

    Critics accuse the administration of firing prosecutors to make room for its allies or because it felt some were too tough on Republicans and too easy on Democrats.

    The administration has said while the dismissals were mishandled, they were justified, and it denied making any threats. Officials also note a president can fire a U.S. prosecutor at any time.

    Recently released documents showed prosecutors were judged on such factors as their effectiveness as well as loyalty to Bush and their boss, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

    The dismissals have prompted calls for Gonzales to be replaced as the chief U.S. law enforcement officer. Bush has rejected such talk, saying he maintains confidence in him.

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    Grassley Backs Subpoenas for Rove, Miers
    By Klaus Marre
    The Hill

    Thursday 22 March 2007

    Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) voted with Democrats Thursday to give Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) the authority to subpoena current and former White House officials, including presidential adviser Karl Rove, to get more information on the firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

    The panel voted by voice vote on the authority, but Grassley said he wanted the record to show that he voted "yes" on the issue.

    During the committee's debate on the subpoenas, ranking member Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) urged of his colleagues "that we not move forward to have a confrontation with the president on this issue."

    He proposed to make a counter-proposal on how Rove and others could be made available to Congress. Earlier this week, the White House said the aides to President Bush could discuss aspects of the firing of the attorneys in private and not under oath. Democrats have called those conditions unacceptable, while the White House said the proposal is its only offer and would be withdrawn if Democrats issue subpoenas.

    "I would prefer to see an open session," Specter said, indicating some reservations about the White House proposal. "I think the American people are very concerned about what's gone on. I think that people have a right to know."

    Specter added that, if his proposal would not get the desired results, the option of subpoenas would still be on the table.

    Democrats, on the other hand, stressed that, at this time, they only want the authority to issue subpoenas, arguing this would strengthen Congress's hand as it investigates the issue.