Iglesias pitching in on subpoena fight
Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias is taking time from his book tour to help Congress in its effort to squeeze the Bush Administration for answers on last year's Justice Department scandal. Iglesias was one of 20 former U.S. attorneys from both political parties to ask a federal court to settle a subpoena fight between Congress and the White House, the Associated Press is reporting:
The list of former U.S. attorneys who filed the documents in U.S. District Court includes David C. Iglesias, who says he was fired as New Mexico's top prosecutor for political reasons. The prosecutors said that, without congressional oversight, presidents would be free to meddle in prosecutorial decisions.
"If permitted to enforce its subpoenas for documents and testimony, Congress has a unique ability to address improper partisan influence in the prosecutorial process," the former prosecutors wrote. "No other institution will fill the vacuum if Congress is unable to investigate and respond to this evil."
The House Judiciary Committee wants to know wither Iglesias and several other U.S. attorneys were sacked by the Bush Administration for political reasons. Congress has demanded documents and testimony from Bush aides, including former counsel Harriet Miers and chief of staff Josh Bolten, but the White House, citing executive privilege, says the two don't need to comply with the subpoenas.
Congress is asking a judge to settle the dispute.
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