The Silence of the Lambs
WASHINGTON, (AP) 7/8/2007 - The Bush administration is urging a former White House political director to ignore a subpoena and not testify before Congress about the firings of federal prosecutors, her lawyer says.
The Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hear from Sara Taylor at its hearing Wednesday and she is willing to talk. Testifying, however, would defy the wishes of the president, “a person whom she admires and for whom she has worked tirelessly for years,” lawyer W. Neil Eggleston said.
Eggleston stated, in a letter this weekend to committee leaders and White House counsel Fred Fielding, that Taylor expects a letter from Fielding asking her not to comply with the subpoena.
“In our view, it is unfair to Ms. Taylor that this constitutional struggle might be played out with her as the object of an unseemly tug of war,” Eggleston wrote.
He added, “Absent the direction from the White House, Ms. Taylor would testify without hesitation before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She has committed no wrongdoing. She will assert no personal privileges.”
The committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, said he expects Taylor to testify.
“It is unfortunate that the White House is trying to interfere with Ms. Taylor’s testimony before the Senate and with Congress’ responsibility to get to the truth behind the unprecedented firings of several U.S. attorneys,” Leahy, D-Vt., said in a statement. (Read the full story here)
The Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hear from Sara Taylor at its hearing Wednesday and she is willing to talk. Testifying, however, would defy the wishes of the president, “a person whom she admires and for whom she has worked tirelessly for years,” lawyer W. Neil Eggleston said.
Eggleston stated, in a letter this weekend to committee leaders and White House counsel Fred Fielding, that Taylor expects a letter from Fielding asking her not to comply with the subpoena.
“In our view, it is unfair to Ms. Taylor that this constitutional struggle might be played out with her as the object of an unseemly tug of war,” Eggleston wrote.
He added, “Absent the direction from the White House, Ms. Taylor would testify without hesitation before the Senate Judiciary Committee. She has committed no wrongdoing. She will assert no personal privileges.”
The committee chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, said he expects Taylor to testify.
“It is unfortunate that the White House is trying to interfere with Ms. Taylor’s testimony before the Senate and with Congress’ responsibility to get to the truth behind the unprecedented firings of several U.S. attorneys,” Leahy, D-Vt., said in a statement. (Read the full story here)
What clearer example could there be of how the Bush administration is interfering with the lawful operations of the other branches of government? A citizen wants to cooperate, but is told not to violate the omerta* imposed on anyone who might shed light on the crimes of her superiors.
This kind of nonsense will only stop when the House and Senate step up to the plate and do their constitutionally required duty in removing the tyrants (Cheney & Bush) now grievously oppressing the American people.
*Omerta-- a term meaning "code of silence," most often used in reference to the Sicilian Mafia.
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