WASHINGTON — Two former senior White House officials were subpoenaed Wednesday by congressional committees investigating the firing last year of eight U.S. attorneys. The subpoenas of former counsel Harriet E. Miers and political affairs director Sara M. Taylor set the stage for a new confrontation between Congress and the White House.
The White House has declined to provide unfettered access to testimony and documents that lawmakers have sought as part of the three-month probe, even as Justice Department documents and testimony have shown that the White House was deeply involved in the firings.
Democrats believe the dismissals were calculated to affect public corruption and voter registration cases in ways that would benefit Republicans. The Bush administration has said the Democratic-led probe has turned up no evidence of misconduct.
"The White House cannot have it both ways," said Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which issued the subpoena to Taylor. "It cannot stonewall congressional investigations by refusing to provide documents and witnesses, while claiming nothing improper occurred."
White House spokesman Tony Snow said it was "way premature" to ask whether the White House would go to court to fight the subpoenas. "They are going to be reviewing the subpoenas and responding appropriately," Snow said.
If the officials refuse to comply, Congress could hold them in contempt, possibly resulting in court action, although such disputes are usually resolved far short of that. While some legal experts said the administration appeared to be operating from a position of weakness, the White House also seemed to be gearing up for a fight.
Leahy's panel, along with the House Judiciary Committee, also subpoenaed White House documents pertaining to the firings and ordered them produced no later than June 28.
Miers, a longtime friend and advisor of Bush, was involved in the genesis of the prosecutor purge, at one point suggesting that the administration fire all 93 U.S. attorneys, the White House has said.
Taylor closely monitored the firing of Arkansas prosecutor H.E. "Bud" Cummins III, who was replaced by Timothy Griffin, a protege of White House political strategist Karl Rove, other documents show.
"Ms. Taylor takes her responsibilities as a citizen very seriously, and she is hopeful the White House and Congress are quickly able to work out an appropriate agreement on her cooperation with the Senate's proceedings," W. Neil Eggleston, her attorney, said in a prepared statement.
