Reply #14: Former prosecutors side with Congress in White House subpoenas

[maddezmom]

Former prosecutors side with Congress in White House subpoenas
Friday, May 30, 2008MARY ORNDORFF News Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON - Birmingham lawyer Doug Jones is one of several former federal prosecutors who sided Thursday with Congress in its battle to hear testimony from White House employees about problems at the Justice Department.

The House Judiciary Committee sued in federal court after President Bush claimed his former legal counsel Harriet Miers and chief of staff Josh Bolten are covered by executive privilege and shouldn't be forced to testify. The committee is investigating allegations of partisanship in the Justice Department that began with the firing of several U.S. attorneys under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The group of former prosecutors who filed written arguments with the Washington, D.C., court Thursday were appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents over the years and said they are not advocating a partisan agenda.

It is a matter of the utmost importance to ensure that Congress can conduct a complete investigation to determine whether White House officials have injected, or attempted to inject, partisan considerations into a process that must be rigorously insulated from such considerations," their lawyer wrote.

more:http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1212135419120590.xml&coll=2