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House Committee recommends contempt charges for Rove

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Three weeks ago, Karl Rove blew off a congressional subpoena and refused to testify on the scandal surrounding the politicization of the Justice Department. Today, the House Judiciary Committee recommended contempt charges against Rove for his defiance.

The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines, 20 to 14, to cite Mr. Rove for defying its subpoena to testify in an inquiry into improper political meddling in the department.

“Mr. Rove has left us no option,” said Representative John Conyers, the Michigan Democrat who is chairman of the committee. Mr. Conyers expressed regret that the committee had been forced to use its subpoena power.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) noted in a memo, “Mr. Rove has refused even to appear before the Committee and assert whatever privileges that he believes may apply to his testimony, relying on excessively broad and legally insufficient claims of ‘absolute immunity’ — never recognized by any court — in declining to appear.”

The vote doesn’t literally cite Rove for contempt, but rather, recommends that the full House hold Rove in contempt through a floor vote.

So, what happens next?

Alex Koppelman did a nice job summarizing:

The next step usually would be a vote by the full House of Representatives, but the House is scheduled to adjourn for its August recess this week, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not confirmed that she will bring up the citation for a vote. Even if she did, and even if the full House voted to hold Rove in contempt, the next step would not be clear either. Once the full House approves a citation, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., is supposed to bring it to a grand jury, but President Bush has already directed the U.S. attorney not to do so in a case in which executive privilege has been invoked.

The House is currently pursuing a civil suit that asks a federal judge to compel former White House counsel Harriet Miers to testify and to compel White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten to turn over certain documents. Both Miers and Bolten have already been cited for contempt by the full House.

I’m not especially optimistic about follow-through and accountability here, though I suspect Conyers isn’t going to let Rove slide. In mid-May, Conyers casually told some associates, when he thought no one else was listening, “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass.”

Comments

  • FreeProton

    says:

    Heh, it’s tempting to fantasize this as an answer to Rove’s equally candid moment where he was overheard screaming at an aide: “We’re gonna fuck him! He’s dead! We’re gonna fuck him! You hear me?” I’d love for THOSE chickens to come home to roost.

    To extend the fantasy, it’s nice to believe that Conyers et al. are skillfully letting the matter simmer until the Bush Administration is finished in January, at which point they bring the full force of criminal prosecutions on this gang at a time when W. won’t be able to pardon their sorry asses anymore.

    Ah, to dream of a country where you have liberty and justice for all! Would that someone, somewhere could think of that…

  • -jayinge-

    says:

    Why go to a floor vote? Why delay twisting this bastard’s (Rove) nose by immersing the citation in House proceedings? I’d appreciate an explanation. Anyone?

  • DB

    says:

    OK. I officially volunteer, free of charge, to help the Sergeant of Arms bring Karl Rove, et al in for their Contempt of Congress hearings. I’ll supply all my own weapons, travel, and black hoods for rendition for the chance to participate in the war-criminals roundup.

    I’m a pretty passive guy but I thoroughly relish the opportunity to chest-thump(over in Iraq, this is what our boys call jabbing the muzzle of your rifle as hard as you can into the rib cage of an opponent) these war-criminals and bring them in to be held accountable for their deeds. Also, I don’t think ol’ turd-blossom will mind the harsh treatment so much, seeing as he did authorize its use on our detainees. What comes around goes around, eh Karl?

  • doubtful

    says:

    They needed to find him in inherent contempt to bypass the Justice Department. Another day, another whiff by the Congressional Democrats.

    Under this process, the procedure for holding a person in contempt involves only the chamber concerned. Following a contempt citation, the person cited is arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms for the House or Senate, brought to the floor of the chamber, held to answer charges by the presiding officer, and then subjected to punishment as the chamber may dictate (usually imprisonment for punishment reasons, imprisonment for coercive effect, or release from the contempt citation.)

  • Bernard HP Gilroy

    says:

    My summer fantasy is that the Congress get off its duff, read up on its own history and powers, and then cite Rove and all the others for inherent contempt. Direct the Sergeant-at-Arms to take a squad of Capitol Police to Rove’s DC address, grab the idiot, and whisk him to a room in the Capitol — preferably one with no windows — until he answers the committee’s questions.

    And I’m reaching the point where I think a little “enhanced interrogation” could be in order. Toad, meet your own petard!

  • SteveT

    says:

    I’m not especially optimistic about follow-through and accountability here, though I suspect Conyers isn’t going to let Rove slide.

    And what, precisely is this belief based on? Has Conyers done anything to push Pelosi to go after these criminals?

    I’d suggest that the House begin impeachment proceedings against Michael Mukasey for his failure to fulfill his Constitutional obligations and present prima facia cases of contempt to grand juries. That might get the White House’s attention.

    Otherwise, the White House is essentially saying, “I’m laughing at the ‘superior intellect.'”

  • ROTFLMLiberalAO

    says:

    So, what happens next?

    Nothing.
    No charges until 2009.

    The best bet is to dare Bush to pardon Rove for crimes that haven’t been charged.
    Simply because we know Bush will pardon Rove for any charges that have been charged.

  • doubtful

    says:

    Otherwise, the White House is essentially saying, “I’m laughing at the ’superior intellect.’” -SteveT

    Of course. Whenever the White House plays chicken with the Democrats they always win. Why should they expect this time to be any different?

    The Democrats are just doing this to try to keep the base in line, but frankly, I’m tired of their song and dance. I’m ready to throw most of them out with the dishwater and the Republicans.

  • hark

    says:

    So, what happens next?

    Um, another tongue lashing from Conyers?

    “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass.” – [“but hey, don’t look at me, fellas. I gave him a talking to. Well, not exactly, but I wanted to. Well, not exactly, but gee whiz, I’d like it if someone else did, sort of.”]

    Ah those spineless wonders, the Democrats. I think even Jesus would have said it’s carrying the meek and humble bit a little over the top.

  • Capt Kirk

    says:

    Problem is that just as the DOJ IG report of perjury and broken federal hiring laws has yet to be reported on the big three networks, they will look at this one and decide “the American people are really not interested in this.”

    Then Fox will trot out Rove himself to do opinion commentary because of his special insight into the matter.

  • zeitgeist

    says:

    well, to pretty well punctuate the “what next” question, Pelosi was on NPR this morning vigorously defending her “no impeachment” position. . .

  • SadOldVet

    says:

    “So, what happens next?”

    Zero. Nada. Nilch. Nothing.

    The ball-less dimocrats running the congress & senate will bluster & then whine & then ‘run out the clock’ without issuing a real comtempt citation. Comfortably with the knowledge that Nancy ‘politics before the Constitution’ Pelosi won’t back any real action. Comfortably with the knowledge that the Bush Department of InJustice would not enforce the law. Comfortably with the knowledge that they have ceded the ‘balance of power’ embodied in the Constitution to the Unitary President.

    What a worthless, whining, pontificating bunch of cowards who have known all along that protecting the Constitution and the rule of law within the United States demanded impeachment!

  • mikem

    says:

    Am I missing something here?
    “…but President Bush has already directed the U.S. attorney not to do so in a case in which executive privilege has been invoked.”
    But, Rove/Bush hasn’t invoked anything. He failed to appear and didn’t provide a reason.
    So, if they send it to the D.C. Attorney, what then?

  • SHI

    says:

    I really don’t know why you waste print space for bringing this up. Time after time the Dems have had a chance to “get serious” about pursuing these wrongdoings, but nothing comes of it. Why bother reporting it anymore – my hopes have been dashed too many times to count – I’ve never been so disappointed with this current cast of characters (Dems) in my entire life…it’s disgusting!
    NO MORAL CHARACTER.

  • Winkandanod

    says:

    In the same way that Democrats punished Lieberman, and Kos is organizing to punish the Blue Dogs, Pelosi, and Reid need to be targeted and forced to defend their behavior to Democratic primary voters. Then they can return to Congress as “independents Democrats.”

  • Steve

    says:

    Nothing happens, because Pelosi is “one of them.” She’s the Lieberman of the House, and the only way that anything gets done is to (1) take Pelosi’s gavel away, and (2) ignore the bejeezuz out of the train-load of pardons that’ll be coming down the track just before Obama’s inauguration. After all—if Bush can wipe his butt on the Constitution, then I can put a lit match to something that’s got Bush’s signature on it—yes?

    Riddle-me-this, Mr. Rove: How many “presidential pardons” does it take to equal the same anti-penetration level as two inches of Kevlar?

  • Megalomania

    says:

    An incoming President may very well void any or all so called pre-emptive Pardons. Consider this that a new President into office behind Bush is the new decider.

    After review, a new President could determine the previous President actually breached national security issues that placed America in jeopardy therefore voiding any and all Pre-emptive pardons thus investigations precede.

    Here, George Bush and Company family will find out if the American electorate has any mercy.

    America is learning there is no such thing as Executive Privilege in the Constitution.

    Here is a list of stuff that is not considered in the Constitution.

    http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#execpriv

    Ladies and Gentlemen of America here in Carpet baggers what strikes me so much is the Mainstream Medias failure to bring such grossly over used and abused fundamentals, like this Executive Privilege since the beginning of our Constitution. Even George Washington abused this flawed process. Mainstream Media has all these lawyers/ Journalist that know whats going on but should be a shamed of them-selves for bring these bullshit political made up corn out into the open.

  • Joey

    says:

    Another example of using the law to break the law. Like OJ only the people can hold these fugitives from Justice accountable, shunning them at every turn. (Which is a qualifying trait to become a Fox anchor) From the gutter he came… in the gutter he lived…and to the gutter he will return.

  • mishanti

    says:

    Once again folks, NOTHING is going to happen to him. These people are teflon. We can all rant and complain and sign petitions etc but the fact is no one seems to have the power to do anything to these crooks.