House panel recommends contempt for Bush cronies Miers, Bolten

July 25, 2007

Washington, DC - The committee investigating the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last year on Wednesday voted to recommend that Congress issue contempt citations to former Counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten for failing to comply with subpoenas issued.

The House Judiciary panel voted 22 to 17 on a resolution to cite former Counsel Miers and Chief of Bolten. Their decision now goes to the House floor for a vote.

A Democratic leadership aide told CNN the full House is unlikely to take up the issue before its August recess.

"This is not a step that as chairman I take easily or lightly, but it is one I believe necessary - not only to allow us to gain an accurate picture but to protect our constitutional prerogatives as a co-equal branch of government," said committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., at the start of the meeting.

Miers was President Bush's pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, before she removed herself from consideration in October 2005.

© AlaskaReport