The Political Chase

White House Invokes Executive Privilege

The White House has invoked executive privilege for the subpoenas issued to former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and former Political Director Sarah Taylor.

”With respect, it is with much regret that we are forced down this unfortunate path which we sought to avoid by finding grounds for mutual accommodation,” White House counsel Fred Fielding said in a letter to Leahy and the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. ”We had hoped this matter could conclude with your committees receiving information in lieu of having to invoke executive privilege. Instead, we are at this conclusion.”

In reaction, Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy accused the administration of shifting ”into Nixonian stonewalling” and revealing ”disdain for our system of checks and balances.”

”Increasingly, the president and vice president feel they are above the law,” said Leahy, D-Vt., after getting the news from Fielding in an early-morning phone call. ”In America no one is above law.”