Arrogant Karl Rove Refuses to Testify

Karl Rove, President Bush’s longtime political guru and all around arrogant political operator, refused to obey a court order to testify before a House Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. Karl Rove’s lawyers says he is immune from a congressional subpoena.

Rove’s lawyer asserted that Rove was “immune” from the subpoena the committee had issued, stating that the committee could not compel Rove to testify due to “executive privilege.”

The congressional panel is investigating allegations that Karl Rove and his White House allies dismissed U.S. attorneys and prosecuted officials who they saw as political opponents.

The panel subpoenaed Rove in May after his lawyer, Robert Luskin, made clear the former White House deputy chief of staff would not appear voluntarily.

Luskin responded immediately that Rove still would not appear, prompting a threat of prosecution from the Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, and Rep. Linda Sanchez, a California Democrat who chairs the subcommittee on commercial and administrative law.

“A refusal to appear in violation of the subpoena could subject Mr. Rove to contempt proceedings, including statutory contempt under federal law and proceedings under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives,” Conyers and Sanchez wrote.

Rove’s lawyer cited a letter from the Justice Department saying Rove is “constitutionally immune from compelled congressional testimony.” Keep in mind that this is the most politicized Justice Department in the history of the United States and it is highly likely that they will say whatever president Bush wants them to say.

Rove’s lawyer said Rove is willing to submit to an “informal interview” or to answer written questions about the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, whose ouster Rove is accused of orchestrating. By informal interview I expect that Rove means he will be glad to make statements about any and all things as long as he is not under oath. Right on, Karl.

“Threatening Mr. Rove with sanctions will not in any way expedite the resolution of the issue,” Luskin wrote in a letter to the panel on Wednesday.

In my opinion, what Rove should be threatened with is immediate rendition by the CIA to a secret prison in Afghanistan. Perhaps a few years of “aggressive interrogation” would take away a bit of the Rove arrogance. On second thought Rove should not be threatened. The rendition should be carried out immediately to rid the US of the man who has poisoned the political well of the US to such an extent that it my never recover to a healthy state.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!