WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Thursday called White House claims of executive privilege in the firings of U.S. attorneys "a sham."
Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, compared White House stonewalling to the actions of the Nixon White House during Watergate and was highly critical of the decision by top Bush adviser Karl Rove to ignore a subpoena. The panel had wanted Rove to testify Thursday.
Rove aide J. Scott Jennings appeared before the panel but declined to testify to any specifics.
"His (Jennings') appearance here today ... does contrast with the failure to appear by Karl Rove, who was also served a subpoena to produce documents and testify today," Leahy said. "Mr. Jennings' appearance shows that the White House's newly minted claim of immunity for White House employees is a sham. But it's also a shame this White House continues to act as though it's above the law."
Leahy noted Rove has spoken in public about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. The White House has offered to allow lawmakers interview him and others involved in the decisions -- but only if it is behind closed doors and no transcript is taken.
"There's actually a cloud over this White House and a gathering storm," Leahy said. "Federal prosecutors observed such a cloud hangs over the vice president in the Libby case; a similar cloud now (is) above Mr. Rove and his partisan political team at the White House as well.
(Former Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was convicted of lying to investigators over the leak of a CIA operative's name and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. U.S. President George Bush commuted his sentence.)
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he thinks when the investigation is finished, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will be forced to resign. He added, however, he doesn't think anyone will be prosecuted for perjury.
The White House instructed Rove not to cooperate with the Senate investigation.
White House counsel Fred F. Fielding told the Judiciary Committee by letter that, as an immediate presidential adviser, Rove is "immune from compelled congressional testimony about matters that arose during his tenure and that relate to his official duties in that capacity," the Washington Post reported Thursday.
