House Judiciary Committee Secures Rove and Miers Testimony in U.S. Attorney Firings

WASHINGTON (DC) – In an agreement reached today between the former Bush administration and Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Karl Rove and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers will testify before the House Judiciary Committee in transcribed depositions under penalty of perjury.  The committee has also reserved the right to have public testimony from Rove and Miers.  It was agreed that invocations of official privileges would be significantly limited.

In addition, if the committee uncovers information necessitating his testimony, the committee will also have the right to depose William Kelley, a former White House lawyer who played a role in the U.S. attorney firings.

The committee will also receive Bush White House documents relevant to this inquiry.  Under the agreement, the landmark ruling by Judge John Bates rejecting key Bush White House claims of executive immunity and privilege will be preserved.  If the agreement is breached, the committee can resume the litigation.

Chairman Conyers issued the following statement:

"I have long said that I would see this matter through to the end and am encouraged that we have finally broken through the Bush administration’s claims of absolute immunity.  This is a victory for the separation of powers and congressional oversight.  It is also a vindication of the search for truth.  I am determined to have it known whether U.S. attorneys in the Department of Justice were fired for improper political reasons, and if so, by whom."