Rove Deposed In U.S. Attorney Probe

WASHINGTON — Former Bush White House official Karl Rove was questioned by House Judiciary Committee lawyers Tuesday on any role he may have played in politically motivated firings of U.S. attorneys.

Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., confirmed Rove's closed-door appearance through a committee spokesman who was not authorized to be quoted by name.

The committee has been seeking answers on who created the list of federal prosecutors who would lose their jobs. Conyers has suspected the trail led to the White House but couldn't prove it. Former President George W. Bush asserted executive privilege for Rove and former White House lawyer Harriet Miers and refused to let them testify.

An agreement was struck in March between Rove's lawyer and the committee for Rove, who was Bush's top political adviser, to testify on the prosecutors' firings, as well as the prosecution of former Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama. Siegelman, a Democrat, has alleged that his prosecution was pushed by Republicans, including Rove.

The agreement called for Rove to testify "under the penalty for perjury," Conyers has said. The committee could release the transcripts afterward, but the agreement also allowed for public testimony.

Nine U.S. attorneys were fired. An internal Bush Justice Department investigation concluded that political considerations played a part in at least four of the dismissals.

Rove's appearance before the Judiciary Committee was first reported Tuesday night by the Web site Politico.

Comments

[ErnestineBass]

Do I need to explain why this man always wears a necktie? lol

[white mende man]

Maybe they'll make an exception and let him wear his tie in jail ;)

[mommadona]

And it went a bit like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ulm8kUXeo8g

[jick]

Brilliant link, pathetic connection to the issue.

[Collielady]

Like this will go anywhere.

[opticsopen]

If he won't show for a subpoena and gets to walk for free what makes anyone think he would even consider telling the truth?

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

It would be a first.

[MsLiz]

Fire extinguishers were on hand, lest Rove's pants caught fire.

[SamEllison]

Tinkle doesn't burn!

[BFare]

He's not scared. This will float away like yesterday's poot.

[WorkingClass]

Was he under oath? Anybody?

[SamEllison]

Deposed would infer he was under oath.

[MsLiz]

It's a crime to lie to Congress, whether under oath or not.

[SamEllison]

It's a crime to out a CIA agent and lie about it to a grand jury too!

[BambooHarvester]

They all LIE to congress and congess does SH*T !
~

[roninroshi]

Rove is a wimp...hid­ing under the skirts of GWB...all those criminals from the Bush admin need too be brought to severe justice.

[montex]

Big deal. Karl Rove knows he has the goods on every member of congress and he will spill their secrets if he spends so much as one night in jail. Just look at his smirky face. Yeah, there was a really good reason for the Bush Administration to do all those wire taps.

[BambooHarvester]

What did you do to Mike Connell ?
~

[talkingdog]

Can you say Frog?

[madtom]

Darn.

There are no waterboarding facilities in law firm conference rooms.

Not yet -- though it has possibilities as a decor theme, especially when waterb- ... I mean, deposing, Bushies..

[AuntiepoppyCock]

I can't stand to see men in denial. Denial that they're completly bald in the middle. Either cut if off or stick on a wig. He looks old and convinced that he will never pay for his lies.

[madtom]

Depositions today, depositions tomorrow, depositions forever.

You will come to LOVE spending your days in law firm conference rooms.

The thick carpet, the heavy tables, the coffee or soft drinks, the view.

Or you may just run to The Hague and turn yourself in.

[macohmz]

I've never seen an expression on that man's face that showed concern.

[MsLiz]

Interesting point.