House Files Contempt Lawsuit

The House committee early last year subpoenaed Bolten for documents and Miers for testimony in trying to make a case that the White House directed the firing of nine U.S. attorneys because they were not supportive enough of Republicans' political agenda.


Bolten and Miers refused to comply.

On President Bush's behalf, White House Counsel Fred Fielding said such information is private and covered by executive privilege.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey and his predecessor, Alberto Gonzales, told Congress they would not refer a contempt citation to a prosecutor if the subjects were acting as directed under executive privilege.

The lawsuit says executive privilege — intended to protect the confidentiality of advice from the president's closest advisers — does not cover documents that don't involve the president.

via SFGate

The Attorney General is not the President's personal attorney, he is the people's attorney.