Finally, The Subpoenas

by Steve

Sure, the White House will blow them off, but the Senate Judiciary Committee today finally took the next step with the Fredo investigation and subpoenaed the White House and the purportedly separate Office of the Vice President to turn over documents related to its domestic spying program.

Also named in subpoenas signed by committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were the Justice Department and the National Security Council.

The committee wants documents that might shed light on internal squabbles within the administration over the legality of the program, said a congressional official speaking on condition of anonymity because the subpoenas had not been made public.

Leahy's committee authorized the subpoenas previously as part of its sweeping investigation into how much influence the White House exerts over the Justice Department and its chief, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Let’s have the court challenge front and center now. Democrats in Congress need to get over the fantasy that they can negotiate a solution with this White House. The Bush Administration will reject the subpoenas on grounds of executive privilege and force the Democrats to take this to court. Do it now, so that the rest of Bush’s agenda and his remaining time in office are spent in a turf war brought on by his criminal Vice President. Make the administration justify to the American people why Dick Cheney should be above the law and free from public scrutiny.