Bush Asserts Executive Privilege
The White House has asserted executive privilege and refused to turn over documents regarding the firing of at least eight U.S. attorneys.
The administration will withhold documents from former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor, and the officials will not testify, the Associated Press reports.
White House counsel Fred Fielding informed the House and Senate Judiciary Committees of the decision in a letter today.
”With respect, it is with much regret that we are forced down this unfortunate path which we sought to avoid by finding grounds for mutual accommodation,” he wrote. “There is no demonstration that the documents and information you seek by subpoena are critically important to any legislative initiatives that you may be pursuing or intending to pursue.”
The letter noted that President Bush had already released more than 8,500 pages of documents regarding the firings and permitted Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other senior officials to testify.
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a White House subpoena in another investigation of warrantless wiretapping.
