Showdown: Judge Orders Harriet Myers to Testify and Congress Moves to Call Her to Hearing

U.S. District Judge John Bates has ruled that former White House Counsel Harriet Miers must testify in Congress — another ruling rejecting the arguments of Attorney General Michael Mukasey. Bates ruled that the House Judiciary Committee may proceed to schedule a hearing with Miers and Chairman John Conyers has indicated that he is going to do precisely that.

Conyers issued the following statement:

“Today’s ruling clearly rejects the White House’s efforts to run out the clock on the Committee’s investigation of DOJ politicization this Congress. I am heartened that Judge Bates recognized that the public interest in this matter is best served by the furtherance of the Committee’s investigation. The Committee intends to promptly schedule a hearing with Ms. Miers and stands ready as always to consider any reasonable offer of accommodation with the White House.”

Bates rejected a requested stay by the Justice Department to allow for an appeal. For a copy of the opinion, click here. Mukasey’s argument was always transparently weak and seemed designed to delay any final ruling until after the end of the Bush Administration — when many in the White House hope will make the matter moot. Mukasey’s arguments are wildly extreme in claiming that all of this testimony is privileged and he must know that it is unlikely to be sustained on appeal. Nevertheless, he continues to block any submission of the contempt cases to the grand jury and to block any serious criminal investigation into this and other scandals, including the torture program and the unlawful surveillance program.

For the full story, click here.