To ward off subpoenas, White House offers Rove, Miers testimony behind closed doors Ron Brynaert
Published: Tuesday March 20, 2007
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez called a meeting this morning to authorize subpoenas for five current and former White House and Justice Department officials, RAW STORY has learned. Later in the day, the White House offered to allow two officials to give limited testimony "behind closed doors."
According to a press release, "The Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL) will meet TOMORROW, March 21st at 10:15 am in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building to consider subpoenas for Kyle Sampson, Karl Rove, Harriet Miers, William Kelley, and Scott Jennings, as well as White House and Justice Department documents, which have not been provided to date."
Late afternoon, White House counsel Fred Fielding offered to allow Rove and Miers to give unsworn testimony behind closed doors, according to a report on MSNBC, and later confirmed on CNN. The pair would not be testifying under oath, and the White House also doesn't want transcripts made of the testimony.
Not very happy with the offer, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called it a "very clever proposal," and said that it will be considered by the Congressional committee leaders. Democrats have been calling for on-the-record testimony by Rove, Miers and others, and the Senate may issue its own subpoenas.
"We'll proceed with subpoenas on Thursday," Schumer told MSNBC.
According to a CNN correspondent, a number of Democrats were unsatisfied with the White House proposal, but at least one Republican lawmaker thought that it would suffice.
In a letter addressed to Leahy, Conyers, Specter, Smith and Sanchez, Fielding writes that the White House wishes "to reach a reasonable accomodation so as to provide your Committees the information they are seeking in a way that will allow this President, and future Presidents, to continue to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively."
FULL FIELDING LETTER CAN BE READ AT THIS PDF LINK
DEVELOPING...
Conyers press release excerpts:
# WHO: House Judiciary CAL Subcommittee
WHAT: Authorizing Subpoenas for White House, Justice Officials and Documents
WHEN: TOMORROW, March 21st, 10:15 am
WHERE: 2141 Rayburn HOB
#