Rove refuses to testify in Congress
Former White House advisor Karl Rove defied a congressional subpoena and refused to testify about allegations of political pressure at the Justice Department, including whether he influenced the prosecution of a former Democratic governor of Alabama.
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Lakewood), chairwoman of a House Judiciary subcommittee, ruled that Rove was breaking the law -- perhaps the first step toward holding him in contempt of Congress.
The White House has cited executive privilege as a reason Rove and others who serve or served in the administration should not testify.
Lawmakers subpoenaed Rove in May in an effort to force him to talk about whether he played a role in prosecutors’ decisions to pursue cases against Democrats, such as former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, or in firing federal prosecutors considered disloyal to the administration.
A decision on whether to pursue contempt charges now goes to the Judiciary Committee and ultimately to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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