House and Senate judiciary committees issued subpoenas yesterday to former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers and Sara M. Taylor, a former White House political director. The object is to keep the media drama going over the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President.
By targeting two former administration officials, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) are hoping that Miers and Taylor might decide to reach accords with the House and Senate committees, regardless of the administration's interests, according to congressional aides.
A similar tactic resulted in damaging public testimony earlier this year from D. Kyle Sampson and Monica M. Goodling, two former senior aides to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, who were at the center of the prosecutors' dismissals.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats are keenly interested in obtaining testimony from presidential adviser Karl Rove but must first question other White House officials. A succession of Justice Department officials have denied responsibility for placing prosecutors' names on the firing lists, which Sampson compiled.
"We still haven't found out who actually concocted this scheme," Schumer said.
I think there's a law, actually.
§ 541. United States attorneys
(a) The President shall appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a United States attorney for each judicial district.
(b) Each United States attorney shall be appointed for a term of four years. On the expiration of his term, a United States attorney shall continue to perform the duties of his office until his successor is appointed and qualifies.
(c) Each United States attorney is subject to removal by the President.
What's the problem, if they've got nothing to hide?
Posted by: political forums | June 14, 2007 at 10:49 PM
What's the problem, if each United States attorney is subject to removal by the President. He removed them. End of story.
Posted by: Tom Bowler | June 15, 2007 at 05:43 AM