Rove Subpoenaed Again

Conyers also attached a subpoena.

And separately, Conyers released a May 5 letter from the Justice Department indicating that its Office of Professional Responsibility has opened an investigation of possible selective prosecution of Siegelman and at least three others.

The Coverage

Carrie Johnson writes in The Washington Post: "The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed former presidential adviser Karl Rove yesterday to testify about his alleged meddling in Justice Department operations, escalating a long fight over lawmakers' authority to question Bush administration aides.

"Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) wants to ask Rove about alleged politicization of the Justice Department, including the firings of U.S. attorneys and any role Rove may have played in the prosecution of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. Siegelman, a Democrat, was convicted on fraud charges but was released from prison in March pending the results of his appeal. . . .

"'The decision about when, where and what a former assistant to the President may testify about raise issues of Executive Privilege and separation of powers that Mr. Rove does not control,' Luskin wrote in a letter dated May 21 that was released yesterday."

Neil A. Lewis writes in the New York Times: "Although Mr. Rove has left the White House and is now a political commentator, Mr. Luskin said that Mr. Rove 'in these matters is not a free agent' and must comply with instructions from the White House not to testify.

"Mr. Conyers has argued that Mr. Rove may not himself invoke any privilege on behalf of the White House but that President Bush could do so. . . .

"If he does not appear, as expected, House Democrats will have to consider issuing a contempt citation as they did for Ms. Miers."

The New York Times editorial board blogs: "The question of whether Mr. Rove needs to testify is not a close one. The House Judiciary Committee has the right to hear from him, in person and under oath. If he believes that any of the committee's questions violate legal privileges, including executive privilege, he still needs to show up -- and invoke the privilege in person."

Elana Schor blogs for the Guardian: "Remember when a congressional subpoena meant something? Ah, the good old days, before George Bush extended his executive privilege like an alien spaceship over every registered Republican voter in the country.

"'Testify before Congress?!' he cried. 'No one who ever sympathised with me may prostrate themselves before the Democrat party! Fools!'

"Just kidding -- that dialogue would be far more Cheney-appropriate. As it is, today's news . . . is intensely anti-climactic. No one in Washington expects Rove to show up, and it's a matter of time before Rove asserts executive privilege again. 'Tis sad but true."