U.S. judge says Congress can subpoena Bush aides

[unapatriciated]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN3135420520080731

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge ruled on Thursday that Congress in its fight with the Bush administration can subpoena current and former top White House aides in its investigation over the firing of U.S. attorneys.

U.S. District Judge John Bates, who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, rejected the administration's arguments that the aides were immune from such subpoenas and that Congress cannot force them to testify or turn over certain documents.

In a lengthy ruling totalling nearly 100 pages, he rejected the administration's request to dismiss the lawsuit that had been filed by the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee in March.

The lawsuit seeks to get testimony or documents from White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers

The lawsuit charged that Bolten and Miers, cited by the House for contempt of Congress, defied subpoenas by refusing to testify or provide documents in the long-running investigation into the administration's 2006 firing of nine of the 93 U.S. attorneys.

It marked the first time the House or the Senate had ever filed a lawsuit to enforce a subpoena aimed at the White House.

[Bluzmann57]

1. Just because they can

Doesn't mean they will.

[Mandate My Ass]

3. or even if they do

Rove will likely just thumb his nose at them once again.

[Faux pas]

2. Judge Bates must not be on the bush payroll, wonder how they

missed him?

Go Judge Bates!!!!!!!!