Are Dems about to get tough with Bush? May press criminal contempt and refer to federal prosecutor

[dajoki]

Bush Is Told to Justify Executive Privilege

By Amy Goldstein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 30, 2007; Page A02
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/29/AR2007062902082.html

The chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary committees yesterday ratcheted up their fight with President Bush over documents on the firing of U.S. attorneys, sending the White House a barbed letter demanding that the president back down from a claim of executive privilege -- or give Congress a detailed explanation for withholding each document.

<<snip>>

The correspondence came a day after the White House invoked executive privilege, for the second time in Bush's tenure, to block the release of internal e-mails and other documents that congressional investigators are seeking to clarify what role Bush's senior staff played in the Justice Department's removal of nine chief federal prosecutors last year. The firings have triggered bipartisan calls for Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales to resign.

Yesterday's letter marks Congress's first move toward enforcing subpoenas issued by the committees this month. The lawmakers had sought documents and testimony from former White House political director Sara M. Taylor and former White House Counsel Harriet E. Miers. Internal Justice e-mails show they were involved in the dismissals.

The committee chairmen told the White House to provide a signed letter from Bush asserting executive privilege, as well as a description of each withheld document, a list of who has seen the documents, and the legal basis for arguing that they may be shielded from public view.

That demand, with a July 9 deadline, is the beginning of several steps lawmakers are empowered to take to try to overcome the executive privilege claim. Those steps could culminate in Congress voting to find the president in criminal contempt and to refer the matter to a federal prosecutor with a recommendation to issue an indictment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. More threatening letters and subpoenas!

Yep, they have worked so well up to now :sarcasm:

[JerseygirlCT]

3. Next time, they're going to write a REALLY angry letter

That'll show 'em.

[Trillo]

2. Anyone have a link to the "barbed letter"? n/t

[otohara]

4. Watch For A Slew of Columns From WP, Supporting Bush/Cheney

rights to break the law.