Rove asserts innocence in attorney firings

WASHINGTON, July 31 (UPI) -- Ex-Bush aide Karl Rove's public disavowal of wrongdoing in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys breaches an agreement on congressional testimony, Democrats say.

Rove, a top political adviser to former President George W. Bush, went public Thursday after years of silence on the controversial 2006 firings, saying soon-to-be-released documents and transcripts from a closed-door House Judiciary Committee hearing support his claim, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Congressional Democrats say Rove's comments indicate he is trying to sidestep an agreement not to discuss his testimony.

"It's hardly surprising that Mr. Rove would minimize his involvement in the U.S. attorney firings or that selectively leaked documents would serve his version of events," committee spokesman Jonathan Godfrey said. "The committee believes that the full record will show Mr. Rove's role in the firing of the U.S. attorneys was more substantial than his statements to the media indicate."

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead questioner, added, "Plainly, Mr. Rove is trying to jump ahead and shape the story before the documents and interviews are released."

Rove's testimony -- which came after a lengthy legal battle -- ended Thursday and the committee is expected to release transcripts in a few weeks.

Rove kept quiet about the matter until Thursday, his attorney, Robert D. Luskin, told reporters. However, Rove had deals in place with The New York Times and The Washington Post under which he allowed them to see some of his e-mails and gave an interview with both newspapers.