ABC:
President Bush ordered his former White House counsel, Harriet Miers, to defy a congressional subpoena and refuse to testify Thursday before a House panel investigating U.S. attorney firings.
"Ms. Miers has absolute immunity from compelled congressional testimony as to matters occurring while she was a senior adviser to the president," White House Counsel Fred Fielding wrote in a letter to Miers' lawyer, George T. Manning.
John Conyers and Linda Sanchez were clearly anticipating this maneuver and prepared the following statement:
We are aware of absolutely no court decision that supports the notion that a former White House official has the option of refusing to even appear in response to a Congressional subpoena. To the contrary, the courts have made clear that no present or former government official - even the President - is above the law and may completely disregard a legal directive such as the Committee's subpoena. [..]
A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. § 194 and under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives.
C'mon Congress, it's beyond ridiculous now. How about calling the Sergeant at Arms and have him escort Miers to the hearing? You can turn up the heat by contacting the Judiciary Committee here.
