Obama White House Looking Into Rove's Claim Of Executive Privilege

Subpoenaed by Rep. John Conyers to testify before Congress, Karl Rove has left the debate over whether or not he is protected from testifying to Barack Obama.

The former Bush strategist had previously refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee by claiming that executive privileges allowed him to keep his conversations with the president private. With Bush out of office, Rove instructed his lawyer, Robert Luskin, to ask the Obama White House whether the same privileges currently exist.

Asked for an answer at the White House briefing session, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama's legal counsel was still looking into it.

"The office of White House counsel is studying those issues and will advise us when we have a recommendation," Gibbs said.

It is a fairly clever maneuver on Rove's behalf -- forcing Obama to make a judgment on executive privileges that could have ramifications later in his presidency. But it is also, probably, the only move he could have made, beyond acquiescing to Conyers' demand and traveling up to Capitol Hill.

Comments

[DanniD]

Nice try Rover. WE THE PEOPLE expect to see you next Monday!

[swo68]

Like the people get a say.

[DanniD]

WE did on November 4, 2008, so what is your point exactly?

[MAragon]

I sure hope that the Obama administration make it clear to Rove that he has no executive privilege whatsoever. For once! Just once!

[DelvinMcGee]

Methinks you missed the entire point of the article.

[Lpeter]

How ironic that Karl tried to ruin the democracy which now protects him.

His life will be haunted by this and he will never have a day of peace.

[karen-nc]

I would like to believe that he would be haunted and never have day of peace -- but one has to have a consience to feel guilty and clearly Rove does not... Would prefer a large fine ... or time in jail (but don't think the latter is in the cards).

[firebeads]

I wish that were true. I don't think he has a conscience!

[wonketteRAWKS]

So...what do you think Obama's decision on this will be?

[loki]

Its a Political PR move. Nothing will come of it. Watch, in a few days or weeks, it will slowly fade away only to become a rumor drifting around the web.

[1liberalconspirator]

No, it's not and it won't go away.

[1liberalconspirator]

Rove is a brilliant insider and plays an excellent game...Despite what we may think of the man.

[swo68]

Will to.

[CeeCee]

If we know anything about the President by now, it is that he will wait until the right moment to act, in this case, when he has his AG on board and not before.

[Telemachus]

True that. I'm very impressed so far.

[Skyhawk]

Did he make the no-fly list yet?

[Telemachus]

Doesn't need to. Any flight he gets on will end up in the Hague. :)

[wndrwrthg]

He will walk, they will do nothing to him for thumbing his nose at the law. There will be no trials of any of the bush thugs, the dems are cowards and the repubs. still have the goods on them.

[4akinderworld]

You know this how?

[dessertsfirst]

It's time for Rove to quit hiding behind the skirts of exec priv.
What is he hiding, anyway? It must be a doozie or he wouldn't have such a problem testifying what he knows about. I have a hunch if he is to testify, GWB's whole house of cards would come down around his ears.

[OYea]

Last I heard a subpoena was a legal document to appear in court. Charge him with contempt and let him sit his a.s.s. in jail! THAT should give him plenty of time to think about what he has to say for himself!

[ramblingjohnny]

The Congress really need to have his own police force and AG to deal with that sort of problem. If the Congress had this they could have bypass the phony Bush Justice Department and have Rove arrested a long time ago.

[myangeldog1]

Gee whiz karl......If you've got nothing to hide, how come you just don't show up......hee hee hee!!

[sonoffestus]

No soap on a rope for Karl !

[jesuslovesObama]

... just a rope.

[SmootyBooty]

folks, it's important to remember that when it comes to crime, there is NO SUCH THING as executive privilege. The supremes already decided the issue...

[kevenseven]

Rove and Bush have repeatedly insisted that they never discussed the US Attorney firing.

So Rove has no recourse in Executive Privilege, yes?

[levibatgirl]

Yes!

[christianmama4change]

No - executive priviledge does not apply to him since he no longer has any power over the white house. prosecute him for crimes against humanity.