Bush Cites Executive Privilege in Congressional Probe

As Congress examines the circumstances surrounding the firing of United States Attorneys, President Bush once again invokes executive privilege to block access to key employees.

Bush, via a letter from White House Counsel Fred Fielding, is rebuffing Judiciary Committee subpoenas of former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Senate Committee, and Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chair of the House Committee, had imposed a 10 am deadline for the President "to explain it's privilege claim, prove that the president personally invoked it and provide logs of which documents were being withheld."

Taylor is scheduled to testify before the Senate Committee on Wednesday. Miers is scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Thursday. It is unknown whether either aide will actually appear.

Update: Marty Lederman at Balkinization details the "what if" scenarios resulting from subpoena rejection. (tip)

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