Judge: No delay for Miers
White House officials seeking to avoid testifying before Congress on matters they say are privileged are running out of options, as a federal judge yesterday declined to delay his order that former White House counsel Harriet Miers and testify on the Hill.
U.S. District Judge John D. Bates denied a request to delay the order while Miers appeals. Miers, along with chief of staff Joshua Bolten, were found in contempt in Contempt of Congress earlier this year for refusing to testify before a House panel about the firings of several U.S. attorneys. Miers, Bolten and the White House contend that executive privilege precludes their testimony.
Bates also ruled that the White House “has supplied no justification, and the court cannot fathom one, for its failure to turn over non-privileged documents to the committee.”
House officials also held former White House advisor Karl Rove in contempt for refusing the testify about the firings.
Senate Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. said hearings would be scheduled promptly.
