It seemed like a reasonable request. At least two senior White House officials leaked the name of an undercover CIA agent in order to cover up their lies about a war, leading to an ongoing criminal investigation in which every one in the West Wing, including the president, has spoken to prosecutors.
Congressional Dems see these circumstances and would like the White House to provide some information about the controversy to Congress, which, not incidentally, has oversight responsibilities for the administration. Congressional Republicans? Not so much.
Two congressional committees rejected Democratic-backed resolutions that would have compelled the Bush administration to turn over records relating to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee and International Relations Committee, who opposed the resolution, said Congress should await the outcome of a federal investigation by special counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald.
Democrats countered that Republicans were trying to protect President Bush and his top political adviser, Karl Rove. “We know that this is a political decision because there is potential embarrassment to the administration,” said Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.).
The resolutions, rejected in committee votes along party lines, sought to force the departments of Justice and State to turn over all documents related to Plame.
It’s quite a change of heart for congressional Republicans. Not too long ago, when there was a Dem president, it never occurred to them to hold off on hearings and congressional investigations until Ken Starr had completed his work.
I can’t imagine what changed their mind.