Early this week, 3000 pages of internal Justice Department e-mails and other documents were turned over to Congress in the matter of the firing of eight US Attorneys. Three of the President Bush's closest advisors are deeply involved: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and political advisor Karl Rove. Today, a House subcommittee took the first step toward subpoenas for Rove and other top White House aides. The President says they can testify privately without any transcript being made, but Congress wants sworn public testimony--on the record. Insisting that there was no wrong-doing, Bush emphasized that he'd go to court to prevent his aides from testifying under oath. Whether or not the issue ends up in court, it will be judged in the court of public opinion. Has the Department of Justice lived up to its name or become a political arm of the White House? We update today’s action with journalists and legal experts.
Is There Constitutional Confrontation in the Works?
Credits
Guests:
- Ron Hutcheson - White House Correspondent, McClatchy Newspapers
- Dan Eggen - Reporter, Washington Post
- Wayne Slater - journalist and author - @WayneSlater
- Erwin Chemerinsky - constitutional law professor and dean of UC Berkeley School of Law
- Byron York - Washington Examiner / Fox News - @ByronYork
- Eric Alterman - The Nation