House Judiciary panel subpoenas Rove

The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday subpoenaed Karl Rove, a former senior adviser to President Bush, to compel him to testify on the “politicization” of the Justice Department.

{mosads}“It is unfortunate that Mr. Rove has failed to cooperate with our requests,” said panel Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.). “Although he does not seem the least bit hesitant to discuss these very issues weekly on cable television and in the print news media, Mr. Rove and his attorney have apparently concluded that a public hearing room would not be appropriate. Unfortunately, I have no choice today but to compel his testimony on these very important matters.”

In a letter to Rove’s attorney Robert Luskin, Conyers said he expects the former White House aide to appear before the panel on July 10.

Democrats want to know what role the White House played in the firing of several U.S. attorneys and the prosecution of Alabama’s former governor, Don Siegelman (D).

Rep. Lamar Smith (Texas), the ranking Republican on the panel, blasted the issuing of the subpoena.

“Mr. Rove voluntarily offered information that was requested, but Judiciary Committee Democrats refused his offer, proving once again that they are not really interested in the facts,” he said.