Former White House aide Rove subpoenaed

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Monday subpoenaed former White House adviser Karl Rove, The Hill reported.

The subpoena is intended to compel Rove to testify about his role in the dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys during the administration of former President George W. Bush, as well as the Justice Department's prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, the report said.

Rove is one of several former White House officials who refused to testify voluntarily in the House and Senate in 2007 on the dismissal of the federal prosecutors. The Bush White House offered to allow executive branch officials to be interviewed behind closed doors, but insisted the officials could not be put under oath and there would be no transcripts of the interviews.

Rove has claimed executive privilege exemption from being compelled to testify but a federal court has rejected the claim, The Hill said. Democrats want Rove to give a deposition Feb. 2.

"I have said many times that I will carry this investigation forward to its conclusion, whether in Congress or in court, and today's action is an important step along the way," said Conyers in announcing the subpoena.

Conyers has suggested Rove was involved in the prosecution of Siegelman on corruption charges, and that the prosecution was politically motivated.