White House plans to block testimony from former top Rove aide; Miers has not decided

[rawstory]

Source: Raw Story

The White House appeared set for an expanded showdown with congressional investigators in the probe of the firing of eight US Attorneys over the weekend.

An attorney for Sara Taylor, a former top aide to White House adviser Karl Rove, notified the Senate that she was unlikely to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee July 11.

At the same time, former Counsel to President George W. Bush Harriet Miers told RAW STORY she did not know if she would appear before the House Judiciary Committee July 12.

An attorney for Taylor informed the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the White House sought to block her testimony.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/White_House_plans_to_block_testimony_0707.html

[Vincardog]

1. "she did not know if she would appear" well send the Sergeant at Arms to politely ask if she would

rather go to jail.

[rodeodance]

6. says former ---Is she still working?

[jimshoes]

2. I do not know if I will pay my taxes this year then

What the fuck. Who works for whom?

[TomInTib]

4. I haven't paid any Federal taxes since shithead was selected.

And the IRS is all over my ass.

Fuck 'em.

[Kablooie]

3. God it would be nice if Congress didn't back down this time.

But somehow, up to now, the administration has always been able to get the opposition to back down so they get away scott free.

I hope this will be the exception but after 6 years of disappointments, I don't have my hopes up.

I'll bet there is some secret back door power the administration is wielding. NSA anyone?

[alllyingwhores]

5. So...testifying is optional?

What's congresses recourse--do they simply go back and forth until Roberts dismisses it?

[rodeodance]

7. and respect the President's assertion of executive privilege.--

White House plans to block testimony from former top Rove aide; Miers has not decided
Michael Roston
Published: Saturday July 7, 2007

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The White House appeared set for an expanded showdown with congressional investigators in the probe of the firing of eight US Attorneys over the weekend.

An attorney for Sara Taylor, a former top aide to White House adviser Karl Rove, notified the Senate that she was unlikely to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee July 11.

At the same time, former Counsel to President George W. Bush Harriet Miers told RAW STORY she did not know if she would appear before the House Judiciary Committee July 12.

An attorney for Taylor informed the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the White House sought to block her testimony.

"Ms. Taylor expects to receive a letter from Mr. Fielding on behalf of the President directing her not to comply with the Senate's subpoena," wrote W. Neil Eggleston, counsel to Taylor, in a Saturday letter to Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

Eggleston noted that Taylor, "recognizes the burden of any citizen to respect the Senate's processes and to be responsive to its subpoenas." But he seemed to signal she would follow the advice of Fred Fielding, White House Counsel, and respect the President's assertion of executive privilege.

"This clash may ultimately be resolved by the judicial branch," he added.

[gort]

8. It's not just Executive Privilege

It's Double Secret Executive Privilege!

[0007]

9. Prick Cheney can do anything is wants to do.....



[Hissyspit]

10. White House Plans To Block Testimony From Former Top Rove Aide; Miers Not Decided

Source: Raw Story

White House plans to block testimony from former top Rove aide; Miers has not decided

Michael Roston
Published: Saturday July 7, 2007

The White House appeared set for an expanded showdown with congressional investigators in the probe of the firing of eight US Attorneys over the weekend. An attorney for Sara Taylor, a former top aide to White House adviser Karl Rove, notified the Senate that she was unlikely to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee July 11.

At the same time, former Counsel to President George W. Bush Harriet Miers told RAW STORY she did not know if she would appear before the House Judiciary Committee July 12. An attorney for Taylor informed the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that the White House sought to block her testimony.

"Ms. Taylor expects to receive a letter from Mr. Fielding on behalf of the President directing her not to comply with the Senate's subpoena," wrote W. Neil Eggleston, counsel to Taylor, in a Saturday letter to Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

Eggleston noted that Taylor, "recognizes the burden of any citizen to respect the Senate's processes and to be responsive to its subpoenas." But he seemed to signal she would follow the advice of Fred Fielding, White House Counsel, and respect the President's assertion of executive privilege.

"This clash may ultimately be resolved by the judicial branch," he added.


Read more: http://rawstory.com/news/2007/White_House_plans_to_block_testimony_0707.html

[tridim]

11. We're deep into Bush and Cheney's "Watergate".

I think I'm going to enjoy this! :)

[BrklynLiberal]

12. They are covering their asses so fast that it is all just a blur.

I sure hope the Dem Congress has the guts to do the right thing and DEMAND answers, and if they don't get them..IMPEACH! IMPEACH!! IMPEACH!!!

DAMN!!!!

[rusty charly]

13. "If you haven't broken the law,

what do you have to hide?"

Isn't that the underlying argument for warrentless wiretapping?

[DavidDvorkin]

14. With the courts now tilted to the right

And biased in favor of the Executive Branch whenever possible, I'm skeptical that any of these people will end up giving testimony under oath.

[aquart]

15. Me, too. But you never know.

Their intention is to push this to the wall. They never accurately gauge the push back.

[ahimsa]

16. Their players are already in place

Fred Fielding and John Roberts have played this hand before:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/7/7/165658/2191

[Fredda Weinberg]

18. It would be a stretch to interfere

As it was explained to me by a lawyer, if a conflict exists between two of the three branches, the third minds its own business. Compelling testimony under oath is clearly a legislative responsibility and there seems no way to avoid political damage. The actors may avoid jail time, but the verdict of history will be harsh.

[redirish28]

17. This is really interesting... The woman you expect BushCo to protect

they aren't (Miers) Wife strongly believes that Taylor can blow atty.gate wide open

[durtee librul]

19. well all this is well and good and if the lil shit

doesn't want to appear, toss her ass in jail and if they scream exec priviledge, then ask who the fuck elected her to the wh? I don't think this so called invented up exev priviledge extends to the dipshit who answers phones and empties lil boots empty booze bottles.

Personally, I'd let them scream exec priv and STILL toss her ass into jail until it all got worked out in the infamous court of Roberts.....

The american people have had it with this skunk (apologies to skunks everywhere) and it's high time this damn congress finds it's balls and does something - ANYTHING would be welcome at this point, except of course another non-binding resolution which they have proved to be experts at.

The reason all the repubs are jumping ship on Iraq is that they are FINALLY hearing from the people who elected them all and they want to keep their jobs so are now providing lip service to all us minions. We'll see who has the last laugh at the next election. Personally, I'd like to see an entire new congress in place with a new dem prez and just start the fuck over. (sorry for the profamnity - I've just had it with the 'I don't wanna' attitude of this administration.

[TexasLawyer]

20. Here's the Reuters coverage

Battle Expected on Dismissals Testimony

Published: July 8, 2007

WASHINGTON, July 7 (Reuters) — The lawyer for a former White House aide told lawmakers Saturday that he expected the Bush administration to try to block the aide from testifying about the dismissals of 93 United States attorneys.

The statements came as the White House and Congress appeared to be moving toward a legal contest over Congressional subpoenas.

In a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the lawyer for the former aide, Sara Taylor, said she would be happy to testify, but expected a letter from the White House directing her not to do so. "In our view, it is unfair to Ms. Taylor that this constitutional struggle might be played out with her as the object of an unseemly tug of war," the lawyer, W. Neil Eggleston, wrote in a letter to the committee and to the White House counsel.

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee, Patrick J. Leahy, said Ms. Taylor’s testimony was important to the committee’s investigation of the prosecutors’ dismissals.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/washington/08attorney.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Vinca]

21. Unless they have something to hide, this shouldn't be an issue. nt