Goodling forced to testify in attorney scandal

May 11, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Former top Justice lawyer Monica Goodling will be forced to testify now that Congressional investigators, checking for political motive in the Justice Department's dismissal of selected U.S. attorneys, have a federal court order.

In a request for immunity from prosecution filed and granted within hours Friday at U.S. District Court, the House Judiciary Committee said the protected testimony could shed light on circumstances "surrounding recent terminations of certain United States attorneys, representations to Congress regarding those circumstances, and related matters."

The panel's leadership believes Goodling took part in "crucial discussions" leading to a "termination list" that was then "refined and finalized," according to a letter last month from committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., that was sent to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The letter was included in Friday's court filing.

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