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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that a federal judge’s ruling that former White House counsel Harriet Miers has to appear before a congressional committee could pave the way for Congress approving a contempt citation against Karl Rove. Earlier this week the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold the White House's former top political aide in contempt of Congress for refusing to appear before the committee on July 10, but before Thursday it was unclear whether the entire House would vote on the resolution. Calling the Miers ruling a “victory for the Constitution,” Pelosi lauded the decision by U.S. District Judge John D. Bates, which said Miers is legally required to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. Although Bates overruled the White House’s contention that Miers was protected from appearing by executive privilege, he did rule that Miers could invoke executive privilege and refuse to answer certain questions. But Pelosi said the ruling could give Congress a new impetus to hold Rove in contempt. Rove refused to respond to a subpoena requiring his appearance at a Judiciary hearing earlier this month on allegations of improper White House influence over the Justice Department. “Of course, it has ramifications for other contempt resolutions we’re considering in the House,” Pelosi said of the ruling. “It certainly strengthens our hand.” Pelosi said the Judiciary Committee has “given us the road map we need to move forward” on contempt citations against numerous White House officials who have refused to testify before congressional committees. In February — following the Judiciary Committee's recommendation — the House passed contempt citations against Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten for refusing to come before the Judiciary Committee, but the resolutions have stalled in the Senate. |
