US President George W. Bush speaks on
the scandal over the firing of federal prosecutors in the Diplomatic
Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Bush Tuesday vowed to
resist any attempt by Congress to compel testimony under oath by top aides
in a row over fired prosecutors, warning against a "partisan fishing
expedition." (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo
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WASHINGTON,
March 21 (Xinhua) -- A House Judiciary subcommittee voted on Wednesday to allow
congressional leaders to issue subpoenas for President George W. Bush's aides,
in their investigation into the firings of eight federal prosecutors by the
administration last year.
The House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and
administrative law approved the move by a voice vote, which would compel the
president's top aides to testify publicly and under oath about their roles in
the firings, which lawmakers said might be politically motivated.
The panel's move does not necessarily mean that
subpoenas will be issued. The subpoenas will be issued only when the four White
House officials, including Bush's political adviser Karl Rove, do not
voluntarily testify under oath in congressional hearings.
On Tuesday, Bush said that he would oppose any
attempts to subpoena White House officials in Congress' investigation of the
firings.
"I will oppose any attempts to subpoena White House
officials," Bush said in a statement.
But he offered that Rove, former White House Counsel
Harriet Miers and two others could testify before congressional committees, but
only in private, not under oath and without a transcript.
Bush's offer immediately drew fire from Democratic
lawmakers.
"Testimony should be on the record and under oath.
That's the formula for true accountability," Patrick Leahy, chairman of the
Senate Judiciary Committee, said.
Lawmakers, which have conducted investigations into
the firings, have called Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign over the
firings of the eight federal prosecutors, but so far Gonzales has refused to
step down.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the authorization of subpoenas Thursday.
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