House committee subpoenas Rove

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- The House Judiciary Committee Thursday subpoenaed Karl Rove, a former adviser to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Lawmakers want Rove to answer questions about what role, if any, the Bush administration played in the firing of several U.S. attorneys and the prosecution of Don Siegelman, Alabama's former Democratic governor, CNN reported.

Siegelman was freed from federal prison in March while an appeals court considers his claim that he was the victim of a political prosecution. Siegelman says he was targeted to prevent him from running for governor against a Republican incumbent.

Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said the subpoena was delivered only after Rove's attorney said his client would not appear before the panel voluntarily, The Hill reported.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Rove has failed to cooperate with our requests," Conyers said in a statement.

Conyers said Rove "does not seem the least bit hesitant to discuss these very issues weekly on cable television and in the print news media."

Rove, who formerly served as Bush's top political adviser, is a regular contributor to Fox News Channel and Newsweek.

Conyers said he expects Rove to appear before the committee July 10.