The Little Bomblet for Turdblossom in the New Rules

[Ichingcarpenter]

By: emptywheel Tuesday January 6, 2009 1:59 pm

Kagro has been tracking the passage of the new House rules package over at his new digs.

As he described earlier, John Conyers stuck something in the new rules that will allow the House Judiciary Committee to continue its lawsuit against Harriet Miers and Bolten to get their testimony in the US Attorney scandal.

One nice goody buried in the new House Rules package: the House will authorize the Judiciary Committee to continue its lawsuit seeking to enforce its subpoenas and contempt of Congress citations against Bush White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers.

Technically, Miers and Bolten were in contempt of the 110th Congress. But with its adjournment, the 110th Congress no longer exists, so there's nothing to be in contempt of, nor any plaintiff in the lawsuit. The courts had indicated that this might give them cause to moot the whole case and drop it. But the Rules package specifically authorizes the Judiciary Committee in the new 111th Congress to continue the suit. And we had earlier word that the 111th was considering reissuing those subpoenas.

And, as Kagro now points out (now that the rules have passed), there's a little bomblet in there specific to Rove.

There's one more juicy nugget in the rules package that just passed. Regarding the Judiciary Committe's power to continue its suit against Miers and Bolten.

From Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's fact sheet (PDF):

In addition, it authorizes the Judiciary Committee and General Counsel to add as a party to the lawsuit any individual subpoenaed by the Committee in the 110th Congress who failed to comply.

Who else was subpoenaed by the Judiciary Committee in the 110th Congress and failed to comply?

Karl Rove.

And Michael Mukasey.

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/01/06/the-little-bomblet-for-turdblossom-in-the-new-rules/

[aquart]

1. God give our Congressmen spines of steel.

And let them pursue these criminals even unto the grave.

[Frustratedlady]

2. I hope this isn't a tease, as I'm more apprehensive than positive in my thinking.

I've seen Conyers fold too many times and I'm afraid he won't carry through. Can we put our faith in Waxman and Leahy, or are they afraid to step on their toes, too?

We should send Leahy a recording of Cheney telling his where to go and what to do, only loop it so it plays continuously. Cheney needs to listen to it, too, although he'll probably think it's Lynn talking to him.

To Conyers, Waxman and Leahy: Our children are watching. What lesson will you teach them? Hmmmm?