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Bush aides face contempt charge | Bush aides face contempt charge |
(21 minutes later) | |
The judiciary committee of the US House of Representatives has voted to file a contempt of Congress charge against two White House aides. | The judiciary committee of the US House of Representatives has voted to file a contempt of Congress charge against two White House aides. |
The move is seen as an escalation of a row over the firing of eight federal prosecutors, correspondents say. | The move is seen as an escalation of a row over the firing of eight federal prosecutors, correspondents say. |
President George W Bush invoked executive privilege earlier in July to stop the two aides from testifying to Congress over the sackings. | President George W Bush invoked executive privilege earlier in July to stop the two aides from testifying to Congress over the sackings. |
The contempt charge must be approved by the full House of Representatives. | The contempt charge must be approved by the full House of Representatives. |
The charge carries a possible jail sentence of a year. | The charge carries a possible jail sentence of a year. |
'Pathetic' | 'Pathetic' |
Congress has held a series of hearings into whether the firing of the prosecutors was politically motivated, as opponents of President Bush say. | Congress has held a series of hearings into whether the firing of the prosecutors was politically motivated, as opponents of President Bush say. |
The two aides - White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and and former legal counsel Harriet Miers - failed to comply with subpoenas to testify to Congress over the dismissals. | The two aides - White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and and former legal counsel Harriet Miers - failed to comply with subpoenas to testify to Congress over the dismissals. |
Harriet Miers is President Bush's former top lawyerThe White House claims that President Bush has the right to reject Congressional requests for documents or testimony from staff members. | |
"I am hopeful that today's vote will help the administration see the light and release the information to which the Judiciary Committee is entitled," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. | "I am hopeful that today's vote will help the administration see the light and release the information to which the Judiciary Committee is entitled," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat. |
She said the contempt proceedings were "part of a broader attempt by House Democrats to restore our nation's fundamental system of checks and balances". | She said the contempt proceedings were "part of a broader attempt by House Democrats to restore our nation's fundamental system of checks and balances". |
"In our view this is pathetic," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. | "In our view this is pathetic," said White House spokesman Tony Snow. |
"What you have right now is partisanship on Capitol Hill that quite often boils down to insults, insinuations, inquisitions and investigations." | "What you have right now is partisanship on Capitol Hill that quite often boils down to insults, insinuations, inquisitions and investigations." |
On Tuesday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced tough questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee over the dismissed prosecutors as well as the White House's use of wire-tapping for terrorism surveillance. | On Tuesday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced tough questioning from the Senate Judiciary Committee over the dismissed prosecutors as well as the White House's use of wire-tapping for terrorism surveillance. |
Federal prosecutors work under the direction of the attorney general but can be dismissed at any time at the discretion of the president. | Federal prosecutors work under the direction of the attorney general but can be dismissed at any time at the discretion of the president. |
Mr Bush has resisted repeated calls to sack Mr Gonzales, who denies any wrongdoing in connection with the sacked prosecutors. | Mr Bush has resisted repeated calls to sack Mr Gonzales, who denies any wrongdoing in connection with the sacked prosecutors. |
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