[h/t The Public Record]:
Conyers now intends to take advantage of that prearranged agreement and is expected to call Rove and Miers to testify before his panel sometime in the fall, according to several congressional sources that spoke on condition of anonymity.
Their appearance would mark the first time that senior Bush White House officials will testify publicly about a scandal that resulted in the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other top Justice Department officials. Rove and Miers defied numerous congressional subpoenas seeking their sworn testimony over the past two years about the roles they played in the firings of the federal prosecutors.
Both Miers and Rove were subpoenaed by Conyers’ committee numerous time, but refused to appear before his committee saying they were protected by George W. Bush’s assertion of “absolute immunity.”
If Rove or Miers refuses to appear before Congress than the agreement the Judiciary Committee entered into with the former officials would be considered breached and Congress would resume litigating the matter in federal court.
“Under the agreement, the landmark ruling by Judge John Bates rejecting key Bush White House claims of executive immunity and privilege will be preserved.
If the agreement is breached, the committee can resume the litigation,” Conyers said in a statement his office issued March 4, after his panel reached a negotiated settlement to secure Rove and Miers’ testimony.
Attorneys for Rove and Miers did not return messages left at their offices nor did they respond to e-mails seeking comment.
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