Karl Rove Subpoenaed By John Conyers: 'Time To Talk'

On Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) issued a subpoena to Karl Rove, requiring him to testify regarding his role in the Bush Administration's politicization of the Department of Justice, including the US Attorney firings and the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. The subpoena calls for Rove to appear at deposition on Monday, February 2, 2009.

Rove has previously refused to appear in response to a Judiciary Committee subpoena, claiming that even former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify before Congress. That "absolute immunity" position was supported by then-President Bush, but it has been rejected by U.S. District Judge John Bates. President Obama has previously dismissed the claim as "completely misguided."

"I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today's action is an important step along the way," said Rep. Conyers. Noting that the change in administration may impact the legal arguments available to Mr. Rove in this long-running dispute, Mr. Conyers added, "Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk."

...

The AP write-up:

The House Judiciary Committee chairman subpoenaed former White House adviser Karl Rove on Monday to testify about the Bush administration's firing of U.S. attorneys and prosecution of a former Democratic governor.

The subpoena by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., continues a long-running legal battle with ex-President George W. Bush's former White House political director. Rove previously refused to appear before the panel, contending that former presidential advisers cannot be compelled to testify before Congress.

The subpoena commanded Rove to appear for a deposition on Feb. 2 on the firings of U.S. attorneys for political reasons. Conyers also demanded testimony on whether politics played a role in the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat.

Bush upheld Rove's legal position, but Conyers said times have changed.

"That 'absolute immunity' position ... has been rejected by U.S. District Judge John Bates and President Obama has previously dismissed the claim as 'completely misguided,'" Conyers said in a statement.

Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment.

"I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today's action is an important step along the way," Conyers said.

The change in administrations may affect the legal arguments available to Rove, Conyers said.

"Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk," Conyers said.

Comments

[blackout1]

01:42 PM on 02/03/2009

Mr. Conyers is a man of intergity. I believe in what he has propose for Rove and the Bush administration. There comes a time when these politician must be held accounatable for their actions. For many years as a citizen I have considered Washinton as a bunch of hypocrites, now there are real leaders holding other leaders accounable.

[jasper1833]

12:27 PM on 02/02/2009

he's supposed to speak at Loyola Marymount University on Feb 3rd....should be interesting to see if her shows up

[testing1234]

11:26 PM on 01/28/2009

According to the Detroit Freep, the congressman's wife (member of Detroit City Council) is being investigated by the FBI for accepting money in exchange for a city contract. Change needs to come to Washington and his hometown.

[RiggsMD]

09:59 PM on 01/28/2009

I believe Patrick Fritzgerald could easily win a conviction against Rove and some of his croonies. Other countries will see our government holding our politicians accountable and doing professional and good business. Bet Rove wont be on the talk show circuit for a long time. Get ready Fox News, this will be very hard to defend and spin. It don't stop here, there's more. Obama 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JeanPaulSatire]

08:45 PM on 01/28/2009

Two words to consider: inherent contempt.

From the Congressional Research Service (the CRS is a non-partisan entity within the Library of Congress) "Congressional Oversight Manual," updated May 1, 2007 (http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL30240.pdf):

"Under the inherent contempt power, the individual is brought before the House or Senate by the Sergeant-at-Arms, tried at the bar of the body, and can be imprisoned. The purpose of the imprisonment or other sanction may be either punitive or coercive. Thus, the witness can be imprisoned for a specified period of time as punishment, or for an indefinite period (but not, at least in the case of the House, beyond the adjournment of a session of the Congress) until he agrees to comply. The inherent contempt power has been recognized by the Supreme Court as inextricably related to Congress"s constitutionally-based power to investigate. Between 1795 and 1934 the House and Senate utilized the inherent contempt power over 85 times, in most instances to obtain (successfully) testimony and/or documents."

It's now time for the House to dust off this power and use it to get answers. And without further delay.

[DickTater]

10:31 AM on 01/28/2009

A few thoughts.

Only the Corporo-Republicans successfully prosecute their enemies. No ReFoolAgin ever successfully get's put away by Dems. Sure, some minor players like Scooter Libby. And those usually get pardoned or commuted, and are back in power by the next ReFoolAgin administration.

The one Caveat I have heard, which gives me pause, is that the Dems will never prosecute these ReFoolAgins because they are afraid of getting prosecuted themselves. I am not sure how many Dems have blood or crimes on their hands, but I do know the ReFoolAgins and their corporate masters are better at digging the dirt and making it stick. Hell, they will get you thrown in prison even if you haven't done anything (see Seilegman and that Paul Minor).

So you have an institutional pattern here....Dems never successfully punish the true criminals in this country.....and ReFoolAgins constantly threaten, subdue, and imprison their enemies....or their planes go down, whatever. ReFoolAgins also avoid justice, cover their tracks, shred the documents, lose the emails. This would not be possible if they were just 'conservative' politicians. It happens because they are in the employ of, and have all the powers and money of the corporations at their command to help evade justice.

[slarabee]

09:13 PM on 01/28/2009

Hope.
Hope is the faith that things do not always have to be as they have been. Hope may not always be gentle. Some should fear hope for the hope of the down trodden is justice for the those that trespass.
We do not live in a world of constants. We are ever forever in a state of change. Awareness of this undeniable nature of the universe and of man is the grasp of emergent thought. The fact that these criminal cannot grasp emergent thought is why they are doomed.
Hope is the battle cry. You discount it at your peril.

[weatherwaxx]

02:35 AM on 01/28/2009

this is a good time to call your Congressional representatives and remind them to confirm Obama's proposed Attorney General. No more "it's legal cause I say so" Gonzales.

[AnAverageAmerican]

04:24 PM on 01/27/2009

Looks like fathead is going back to Washington.

[motoGpifupleez]

03:06 PM on 01/27/2009

To the U.S. Senate,
Please hurry and seat the new Senator from Minnesota, Al Franken.
He is absolutely the man to handle this questioning.
Mr. Rove will need Depends when he sees Senator Franken on the panel, especially since he won't get the questions in advance, there will be actual consequences, and most importantly, no guardian angel to pardon him at the end of it all.
Welcome to the Jungle.

[ELGUAPO77]

03:05 PM on 01/27/2009

THAT GUY IS GOING TO JAIL

[Yarrr]

02:49 PM on 01/27/2009

If this actually happens I will be amazed. Yet amazingly pleased. If we don't learn from the crimes of BushCo how will we prevent them from happening again?

[Archie1955]

02:49 PM on 01/27/2009

Even if he shows up he'll cop the fifth.

[SecondBase]

04:24 PM on 01/27/2009

Republicans don't "cop the fifth." Republicans, as so consistently demonstrated by the "testimony" of Alberto Gonzales, cop the Reagan Alzheimer's defense: "I don't recall."

[PSM42]

02:46 PM on 01/27/2009

Got any fri. ends after that example? Oops. Got any fri. ends before that example? Got an. yo. ne who tru. sts you now?

Do you see a bu. rn. ing ai. rpl. ane when you clo. se your eyes to sle. ep?

[PSM42]

02:44 PM on 01/27/2009

Hey Karl, got any thoughts on a Pip. er Sar. atoga on final approach to Ak. ron-. Can. ton Ai. rp. ort?

For a pl. ane that was out of fuel it sure did bu. rn fie. rcely. Bu. rnt to a cr. isp.

[Leon72]

01:57 PM on 01/27/2009

If Dem Congress can not get Rove to finally explain all of his "alleged" misdeeds now, then they never will. It is time for spineless Dems to show they have the stomach for this fight. If they don't, I will forever vote for a third party.