http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jbBwATa8wRP7vcEaEU_ls0okDChwD927PHM80Petition calls for Rove to be held in contempt
15 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bush administration critics hand-delivered a petition to a Democratic lawmaker Tuesday containing more than 127,000 signatures calling for former White House adviser Karl Rove to be held in contempt of Congress and jailed.
A coalition of advocacy groups dropped off three boxes of signed petitions at the office of Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., who heads a House Judiciary subcommittee that took up the matter this month. The full committee is scheduled to take up the contempt charges Wednesday.
The coalition includes advocacy groups such as Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as well as liberal organizations such as Brave New Films, Campaign for America's Future and The Nation magazine.
They want Rove held in contempt for defying a Judiciary Committee subpoena calling on him to testify about whether he inappropriately influenced Justice Department hiring or played a role in prosecutors' decisions to pursue cases against Democrats, such as former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.
Rove has denied any involvement in Justice Department activities and submitted a written statement to the committee. The White House has cited executive privilege in arguing that he and others who serve or served in the administration should not testify, maintaining that internal administration communications are confidential and that Congress cannot compel officials to testify.
Sanchez told the petitioners she is confident the Judiciary Committee will vote to recommend that Rove be cited for contempt by the full House. Republicans call the contempt proceedings a political stunt.