Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
03/10/2008
Pelosi Statement on House Filing Civil Lawsuit Against Bush Administration to Enforce Contempt Subpoenas
Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following
statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives General Counsel filed a
civil lawsuit this morning on behalf of the House Judiciary Committee to
enforce subpoenas issued by the committee seeking information from the White
House on the U.S. Attorney firings:
“The House is taking action today to uphold the rule of law
and to protect our Constitutional system of checks and balances. Congress, on behalf of the American people,
is clearly entitled to the information that is being sought – it involves the
politicization of the Justice Department and law enforcement, not national
security information nor communications with the President. The President has no grounds to assert
executive privilege.
“By filing this lawsuit, House Members recognize the need to
defend Congress’ subpoena power against the efforts of any Administration to
hide information in order to prevent the exercise of Congress’ oversight and
lawmaking responsibilities. This action
is completely non-partisan. Seventeen
Republican Members of the House Judiciary Committee stated in their minority
report that an alternative to the contempt citation issued by the House and
rejected by the Attorney General is ‘bringing an enforcement action under the
federal question jurisdiction already conferred on the district courts.’ Today’s lawsuit follows that alternative.
“The House stands ready, as it has throughout this dispute with the Administration, to discuss terms under which necessary testimony and information can be provided consistent with the need to ensure accountability and veracity. The Bush Administration cannot conceal information and prevent Congress from carrying out its oversight and lawmaking responsibilities. This and future Congresses will not and must not abdicate our Constitutional right to conduct meaningful oversight of the Executive Branch."