The Bush administration is urging a former White House political
director to ignore a subpoena and not testify before Congress about
the firings of federal prosecutors, her lawyer says.
The fight involves the investigation by Democratic lawmakers
into the firings of several US attorneys. The lawmakers want to
know whether the White House improperly ordered the dismissals to
promote a Republican political agenda.
The investigation has expanded to include scrutiny of the
administration's terrorism-era warrantees wiretapping and
Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales' stewardship of the Justice
Department.
The Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hear from former White
House political director Sara Taylor at its hearing on Wednesday
and she is willing to talk. Testifying, however, would defy the
wishes of President George W. Bush, "a person whom she admires and
for whom she has worked tirelessly for years," lawyer W. Neil
Eggleston said.
Eggleston stated, in a letter last weekend to committee leaders
and White House counsel Fred Fielding, that Taylor expects a letter
from Fielding asking her not to comply with the subpoena.
"In our view, it is unfair to Ms Taylor that this constitutional
struggle might be played out with her as the object of an unseemly
tug of war," Eggleston wrote.
He added, "Absent the direction from the White House, Ms Taylor
would testify without hesitation before the Senate Judiciary
Committee. She has committed no wrongdoing. She will assert no
personal privileges."
The committee chairman, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, said
he expects Taylor to testify.
"It is unfortunate that the White House is trying to interfere
with Ms Taylor's testimony before the Senate and with Congress'
responsibility to get to the truth behind the unprecedented firings
of several US attorneys," Leahy said in a statement.
Lawmakers have given the White House until today to explain why
the White House claimed executive privilege on subpoenaed documents
related to the congressional investigation. Lawmakers also want an
accounting of documents being withheld.
The Washington Post, citing unidentified sources,
reported Sunday that Fielding was expected to tell lawmakers that
he already has provided the legal basis for the executive privilege
claims and does not intend to hand over the documentation
sought.
Without an agreement on the subpoenaed documents, the dispute
appears to be heading toward contempt citations and, possibly, a
constitutional showdown in federal court.
(China Daily via agencies July 9, 2007)
