White House rejects congressional subpoena

WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- The White House has responded to what it called an "unreasonable" demand for information on the firings of U.S. attorneys by refusing to comply.

Late last month, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to White House adviser Karl Rove's former deputy to determine the role played by the White House in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. The letter gave the White House until Monday to respond.

"The president feels compelled to assert executive privilege with respect to testimony sought from (Rove aide) Sara M. Taylor and (former White House counsel) Harriet E. Miers ...," White House counsel Fred Fielding wrote in a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich.

Fielding said he was concerned over the "tone and apparent direction" of the inquiry and accused Congress of already having made up its mind on whether executive privilege applies.

"We are aware of no authority by which a congressional committee may 'direct' the executive to undertake the task of creating and providing an extensive description of every document covered by an assertion of executive privilege," Fielding wrote.

Fielding repeated the White House offer to provide information without the demand of a subpoena and without requiring witnesses to be sworn.