Fight over White House subpoenas heads to court

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., chairman, House Judiciary Committee

23 June 2008

WASHINGTON— Lawyers for the White House and Congress are headed to court Monday in a dispute over whether top aides to President Bush must provide evidence in a House investigation.

The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee is demanding documents and testimony from the president's chief of staff and former lawyer about the firing of federal prosecutors.

The White House says Congress can't do that because of the separation-of-powers doctrine.

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing for 10 a.m.

The Bush administration wants the court to stay out of this fight, but lawmakers say the court is obligated to help enforce a congressional subpoena.