 Empty chair the Judiciary Committee saw the last time |
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Monday subpoenaed former White House adviser Karl Rove, The Hill reported. The subpoena is intended to compel Rove to testify about his role in the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys during the administration of former President George W. Bush, as well as the Justice Department’s prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, the report said.
Rove is one of several former White House officials who refused to testify voluntarily in the House and Senate in 2007 on the dismissal of the federal prosecutors. The Bush White House offered to allow executive branch officials to be interviewed behind closed doors, but insisted the officials could not be put under oath and there would be no transcripts of the interviews.
Rove has claimed executive privilege exemption from being compelled to testify but a federal court has rejected the claim.
“I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today’s action is an important step along the way,” said Conyers in announcing the subpoena.
Is this the point where Rove switches from “executive privilege” to the Fifth Amendment?
#58, Marc,
Rove can switch to the 5th but he has to show up in person and take the 5th.
Only if the question and answer would implicate him in a criminal undertaking. If the question refers to another party that he would have knowledge about then he may not claim the “5th”.
# 58 Marc Perkel said, “Rove can switch to the 5th but he has to show up in person and take the 5th.”
Last night he said he wasn’t going to D.C.
So much for that.