US House votes to hold two Bush confidants in contempt
WASHINGTON (AFP) — The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to hold a former and a current aide to President George W. Bush in contempt for ignoring orders to testify over the firing of prosecutors.
The Democratic-led House voted 223-32 in favor of issuing citations against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and Bush's former counsel, Harriet Miers, for ignoring subpoenas over the firing of several US attorneys in 2006.
Republicans had walked out of Congress in protest before the vote, saying the priority of the House should be to quickly pass a bill to make a wiretap law permanent.
The vote could trigger a constitutional showdown between Congress and the White House, as Bush has cited "executive privilege" in his refusal to let his aides testify over the scandal.
"This action is unprecedented, and it is outrageous," White House press secretary Dana Perino said in a statement. "It is also an incredible waste of time -- time the House should spend doing the American people's legislative business."
Perino said the House "has critically important business before it," in reference to a controversial measure, about to expire, that authorizes government wiretaps of those with suspected terror links abroad without penalty to the communications companies that facilitate it.
"It is astonishing and deeply troubling that after months of delay on passing a bill that will help our intelligence professionals monitor foreign terrorists who want to kill Americans, the House has instead turned its attention to the silly, pointless, and unjust act of approving these contempt resolutions."
The row over the prosecutors cost the job of former attorney general Alberto Gonzalez last year after he came under heavy criticism from lawmakers over his explanations for the firings.
It is up to the US federal attorney in Washington to follow up on the House contempt citations.
It is rare for Congress to issue contempt citations, which seek to punish those who obstruct an investigation or refuse to testify.
