Federal Judge Okays Goodling Immunity Grant
Clearing the way for Monica Goodling to testify before Congress, a federal judge today approved an immunity deal.
The former senior aide to U.S. Attorney General Albert Gonzales, who also served as a White House liaison, “may not refuse to testify” and cannot be prosecuted in connection with her testimony unless she commits perjury, according to a brief order by U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan, reports AP.
She has been given so-called use immunity that prevents the government from developing criminal charges against her based on her testimony, according to Bloomberg.
Goodling originally became a focus of ongoing investigations by the House and Senate judiciary committees because they wanted information about her role, if any, in the controversial dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys last year allegedly due to Republican political considerations. However, the inquiries have since expanded to include questions about whether Goodling illegally took party politics into account when hiring career attorneys at the Justice Department.
She originally said she would take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify before Congress, but her lawyer has said she would cooperate fully if granted immunity.
