Leahy presses for White House testimony

[Sydnie]

The Bush White House was expected to announce early this week whether it will let political strategist Karl Rove, former White House counsel Harriet Miers and other officials testify or will seek to assert executive privilege in preventing their appearance.

The chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., last week delayed a vote on the subpoenas until Thursday as the president's counsel, Fred Fielding, sought to negotiate terms. But on Sunday, Leahy said he had not met Fielding nor was he particularly open to any compromises, such as a private briefing by the administration officials.

"I want testimony under oath. I am sick and tired of getting half-truths on this," Leahy said. "I do not believe in this, we'll have a private briefing for you where we'll tell you everything, and they don't."

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), the top Republican on the committee, said he had a long talk with Fielding on Friday and was reserving judgment. Specter said he would like to see Rove and Miers' open testimony because there were numerous precedents for it.

"I want to see exactly what the White House response is," Specter said. "Maybe the White House will come back and say, 'We'll permit them to be interviewed and we'll give them all the records.'"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070319/ap_on_go_co/fired_prosecutors

Leahey is pissed now. If Specter brokers a deal for closed door hearings, I'll be pissed. I want it open and on my TV!

[wicket]

1. Give 'em hell Leahy!!!!!!

K & R

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[fooj]

2. Senator Leahy has my respect and support.

Don't forget that this man was sent ANTHRAX! Hell, it was attempted murder. Can you imagine how terrifying that must have been? I wonder if he has a pretty good idea from where it originated...

Talk about feelings of rage and utter betrayal.

He's going to hold these treasonous, rat bastards accountable. My money is on Leahy all the way. No more bullshit.

[cali]

4. Quite frankly, I don't think Leahy's outrage has much or anything

to do with either the anthrax letter sent him or Cheney's telling him to go fuck himself. I've heard him many times over the past few years on VPR's Switchboard program responding to callers; he's outraged over the illegal and immoral actions of this administration.

[Toots]

5. A drip here, a drip there, and pretty soon his bucket is overflowing.

There are just so many ourtrages and so little time...

[fooj]

6. I agree.

I didn't mean to suggest that that was the "exclusive" reason for the outrage.

[wicket]

3. kick

:kick: