Judge Rejects Bush Aides' Immunity Claims

McClatchy reports US District Judge John Bates "rejected the Bush administration's sweeping assertion of executive privilege and ruled that two White House aides must answer subpoenas from Congress." However, Judge Bates "said that the aides could cite executive privilege and refuse to answer specific questions once they were in front of Congress." The Wall Street Journal says "the ruling by US District Judge John D. Bates doesn't settle the larger question of whether" former White House counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten "can assert executive privilege to refuse to respond to specific questions from Congress." The AP, meanwhile, calls the ruling "a blow to the Bush administration's efforts to bolster the power of the executive branch at the expense of the legislative branch."
The New York Times reports, "Unless overturned on appeal," Miers and Bolten "would be required to cooperate with the House Judiciary Committee, which has been investigating the controversial dismissal of the federal prosecutors in 2006." The Washington Post reports, "Bates's decision will likely not end the squabble. The Justice Department, which represents the White House, is expected to appeal. Officials with the committee and the Justice Department could not be reached for comment." The Hill also notes Speaker Nancy Pelosi "said the ruling could give Congress a new impetus to hold Rove in contempt." The Los Angeles Times and Washington Times run similar reports.

The battle of separation of powers continues

Will congress actually follow through and fight for their powers??? or will they cave to the political pressure and allow the expansion of presidential powers??

Hope everyone is having a good summer; Don't for get to chime in from college or Europe. Take care