Harriet Miers' Attorney Says She Will Not Attend House Judiciary Committee Hearing

Judiciary Panel to Consider Privilege Claims Tomorrow

July 11, 2007 -- ( Washington, DC) - Today, an attorney for former White House Counsel Harriet Miers rescinded his prior confirmation that Ms. Miers would attend the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on Thursday in response to a subpoena and would assert executive privilege to certain questions posed by the committee, as directed by the president.

In a July 10 letter addressed to committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. and subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sánchez, attorney George T. Manning said the decision was based on a letter from current White House Counsel Fred Fielding further directing Miers not to even appear at the hearing.

"I am extremely disappointed in the White House's direction to Ms. Miers that she not even show up to assert the privilege before the committee," Conyers said. "We understand that the White House has asserted privilege over both her testimony and documents, and we are prepared to consider those claims at tomorrow's hearing."

"It is disappointing that Ms. Miers has chosen to forego this opportunity to give her account of the potential politicization of the justice system," Sánchez added. "Our investigation has shown – through extensive interviews and review of documents – that Ms. Miers played a central role in the Bush Administration’s decision to fire chief federal prosecutors.

"The White House had previously offered to allow Ms. Miers to talk with our committee – without an oath or transcription – so I presume that her testimony is not a grave threat to the health of the executive branch. I am hopeful that Ms. Miers will reconsider the White House’s questionable assertion of executive privilege and give her testimony on the firing of U.S. Attorneys."

The committee also notes that today Sara Taylor, the former White House Political Director, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Although Ms. Taylor declined to answer certain questions based on the president’s assertion of executive privilege, she answered many other questions substantively. Most importantly, Ms. Taylor did not attempt to simply ignore her subpoena and not even appear at the hearing, and her appearance before the Senate committee permitted full consideration of the president’s assertion of privilege.

Ms. Miers is scheduled to appear before the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law tomorrow, July 12, at 10 A.M. in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building. The subcommittee will meet as scheduled.

"As a former public official and officer of the court, Ms. Miers should be especially aware of the need to respect legal process, and we expect her to appear before the committee tomorrow as scheduled," Conyers said.

The letters from Manning to the committee, from the White House to Manning, and Conyers and Sánchez's response, are available on the committee's Web site at:

Letters from the Chair and Responses

Source: House Judiciary Committee

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •