House panel subpoenas Gonzales

House panel subpoenas Gonzales
By Brooke Masters in New York
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: April 10 2007 23:15 | Last updated: April 10 2007 23:15


The House judiciary committee ratcheted up the pressure on Alberto Gonzales, the attorney-general, on Tuesday by issuing its first subpoena connected to the controversial firing of eight top prosecutors.

The committee wants unedited copies of some heavily blacked-out e-mails that have already been turned over, including a ranking of all 93 US attorneys, and information about several of them who were also considered for dismissal.

This marks the first time that Congress has demanded rather than asked for information about the issue and it could set up a legal confrontation if the department of justice resists.

“We cannot accept the department’s unilateral judgment as to how much of this information it needs to disclose,” John Conyers, the committee chairman, said in a letter accompanying the subpoena.

Brian Roehrkasse, the department’s spokesman, called the subpoena “unfortunate” because the documents include personal information about sitting US attorneys. But he added: “We still hope and expect that we will be able to reach an accommodation with the Congress.”

The committee had previously authorised subpoenas for several department officials and Karl Rove, President George W. Bush’s chief political aide, but has not issued them. Congressional aides have been negotiating with the White House and the DoJ to get voluntary testimony.

The mass sacking of seven prosecutors in December and the ousting of an eighth to make way for a protégé of Mr Rove has become a flashpoint in Washington. Dozens of Democrats and even a few Republicans are saying that Mr Gonzales should step down.

The controversy has also stirred up allegations that law enforcement has been politicised. Several of the ousted prosecutors say they faced improper questions about political corruption or voter fraud cases.

Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, also asked the DoJ on Tuesrday for information about the prosecution of a Democratic Wisconsin state official.

The official’s conviction became an issue in the 2006 governor’s race in that state but was overturned last week by a federal appeals court because of insufficient evidence.