House Judiciary Subcommittee Approves Subpoena for Former Senior Justice Department Official on U.S. Attorney Firings
May 01, 2007

Washington - Chairwoman Linda Sánchez announced today that the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law (CAL) voted to subpoena former Deputy Attorney General James Comey as part of the Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the Bush Administration’s plan to fire U.S. Attorneys.

Following the vote, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. issued the subpoena requiring Comey’s testimony before the CAL Subcommittee at an oversight hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 3. Comey was previously informed of the move to issue the subpoena and agreed to testify at the hearing.

Comey was second in command at the Justice Department when records indicate that discussions began between the White House and Justice Department over the mass firing of U.S. Attorneys.

“James Comey has earned a reputation in the law enforcement community of fairness and commitment to justice,” said Chairwoman Sánchez. “I believe Mr. Comey can clear up some of the confusion created by the contradicting stories we’ve been presented.”

"We believe Mr. Comey's testimony will help the Committee piece together some of the missing parts of this puzzle," said Chairman Conyers.