Judiciary Committee to use subpoenas in Gonzales probe

March 15, 2007

Washington, D.C. - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved by voice vote Thursday the authorization of the use of subpoenas to elicit testimony from 11 people -- including five current and former Justice Department officials -- in its investigation of how the firings of eight U.S. attorneys were handled by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved by voice vote Thursday the authorization of the use of subpoenas to elicit testimony from 11 people -- including five current and former Justice Department officials -- in its investigation of how the firings of eight U.S. attorneys were handled by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

It postponed, however, a vote on the authorization to use subpoenas to compel White House officials to testify, including President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers.

"If I do not get the cooperation, I will subpoena," said chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "We will have testimony under oath before this committee. We'll have the chance for both Republicans and Democrats to ask questions and we'll find out what happened."

Among those who may be subpoenaed are six of the fired U.S. attorneys: David Iglesias, of Albuquerque, N.M.; Carol Lam, of San Diego; H.E. "Bud" Cummins of Little Rock, Ark.; David McKay of Seattle; Paul Charlton of Phoenix; and Dan Bogden of Las Vegas. Also, Gonzales' former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, who resigned over the issue; Michael Elston, the chief of staff of Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty; William Mercer, the acting associate attorney general; Monica Goodling, counsel to the attorney general and White House liaison; and Michael Battle, the director of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys.