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House panel rejects Bush’s executive privilege claim |
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By Klaus Marre
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Posted: 07/12/07 04:56 PM [ET] |
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Congressional Democrats and the White House moved one step closer to a constitutional collision after the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Thursday rejected President Bush’s claim of executive privilege. Former White House counsel Harriet Miers was slated to discuss her role in the firing of several U.S. attorneys with the panel but skipped the hearing after the Bush administration informed her that she could defy the committee’s subpoena. Democrats disagreed with that interpretation of the law. “It seems that the president’s inconsistent position on allowing senior advisers to testify may reflect his concern about what the adviser might say, rather than a steadfast adherence to the concept of executive privilege,” subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) said. Republicans accused the majority of continuing its investigation into the firings only for political gain, not because there was actual wrongdoing. “It is time for the majority to stop swaggering its power in this Congress, to clothe itself in prudence and to back off this pointless constitutional showdown, or provide evidence to the contrary,” Rep. Chris Cannon (R-Utah) said. The 7-5 vote that rejected Bush’s executive privilege claim is the first step toward holding Miers in contempt of Congress. |
