Thornburgh Angers Democrats in Snubbing House Judiciary Panel

Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh refused Thursday to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, prompting charges by Democrats that he was avoiding tough questioning about the Justice Department.

“I am shocked and saddened by the empty chair before us,” said Rep. Jack Brooks (D-Tex.), the panel’s chairman.

“What the attorney general seems to be objecting to is the robust interchange of views that is an essential part of the give-and-take at the heart of the political process,” Brooks said.

Republicans on the panel defended Thornburgh’s refusal to attend the oversight hearing, saying Democrats were trying to turn the session into a “political circus” because the attorney general is planning to run for a vacant Senate seat this fall.

Democrats countered that Thornburgh was ducking tough questioning to avoid political embarrassment as he prepares to run for the Senate seat left vacant in Pennsylvania by the death of Republican Sen. John Heinz.

Brooks had issued a tough press release on Wednesday bearing the headline: “Judiciary Committee to Question Attorney General on Department of Justice Stonewalling, Mismanagement.”

“I don’t blame the attorney general for not coming. The political nature of this hearing is enormously clear,” Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) said. Rep. Hamilton Fish Jr. (R-N.Y.) said he advised Thornburgh not to attend.

Brooks said he wanted to question Thornburgh about the Justice Department’s foot-dragging or outright refusal to give Congress information it requests.

Brooks said he was particularly angered by a Justice Department proposal to allow government agencies to ignore General Accounting Office orders that they pay legal fees of companies involved in contract bid protests.