House Judiciary Committee Issues Contempt Citations Against Former White House Aides

The House Judiciary Committee has issued contempt citations against two former members of the Bush Administration for refusing to respond to subpoenas requiring them to attend hearings. The targets of the citations are former White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers. The Committee vote was 22-17 in favor of the citations and fell along Party lines.

It has been many years since such high ranking political figures have been held in contempt by the U.S. Congress. The citations still require the backing of a full vote in the House of Representatives.

This will almost certainly end up in Federal Court, and will be a Constitutional battle. Why? Because the contempt citations have to be enforced by a U.S. attorney. And since the U.S. attorneys are controlled by the Bush administration, the citations will go nowhere. This obstacle will require the Congress to petition the Federal Courts.

This may be the first major battle between the Congress and the Bush administration since Democrats took control earlier this year.

WATCH THE PROCEEDINGS


White House Reaction

White House Spokesman Tony Snow calls the move "pathetic".

No Tony.... the Bush Administrations arrogance and complete disregard for the American people and for the Constitution is what's pathetic.