Washington – A Senate panel, following the House’s lead, has authorized subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the firing of federal prosecutors.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, by voice vote, decided to approve the subpoenas as Republicans and Democrats sparred over whether to press a showdown with President Bush over the ousters of eight U.S. attorneys.
Democrats angrily rejected Bush’s offer to grant a limited number of lawmakers private interviews with the aides with no transcript and without swearing them in. Republicans counseled restraint.
A House Judiciary subcommittee authorized subpoenas in the matter Wednesday, but none has been issued.
Democrats said the move would give them more bargaining power in negotiating with the White House to hear from Bush’s closest advisers.
“We’re authorizing that ability but we’re not issuing them,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said of the subpoenas. “It’ll only strengthen our hand in getting to the bottom of this.” Republicans countered, however, that subpoenas were premature.
“I counsel my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to work hard to avoid an impasse. We don’t need a constitutional confrontation,” said Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the panel’s top Republican.
