Leahy threatens White House with subpoenas

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Wednesday sent a strongly worded letter to President Bush’s counsel Fred Fielding and threatened to issue subpoenas if the White House continues to “stonewall” an investigation into its involvement in the firing of several U.S. attorneys.

“It appears from the evidence gathered by the Committee in five hearings, eight interviews with current and former officials from the Department of Justice and review of the limited documents produced by that Department that White House officials played a significant role in developing and implementing the plan for the dismissals,” Leahy said. “Indeed, the plan seems to have originated in the White House and was formulated by and with coordination of the White House political operation.”

Pat Leahy has sent a "strongly worded" letter to President Bush's counsel Fred Fielding! THAT's really going to scare them. This is all sound, and fury, and signifies absolutely nothing until the subpoenas are actually delivered.

And given the track record of these committees, absolutely nothing will happen. This is simply democratic party grandstanding for the next election. And by the way, chairman Leahy, as you well know, refusal to comply with a congressionally-issued subpoena is a contempt of congress - and an impeachable offense. Let's see you actually do something: talk is cheap, and that's all you're offering right now.