The Crypt, politico.com
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is looking to follow-up on his eye-opening hearing Wednesday with GSA Administrator Lurita Alexis Doan. Waxman sent a letter on Thursday to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove asking Rove whether he played any role in putting together a Jan. 26 videoconference. During that event, a White House aide briefed political appointees at GSA on what they could do to help Republicans – and hurt Democrats – in 2008. House Democrats have suggested the meeting may have violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from engaging in political activities at work. J. Scott Jennings, an aide to Rove who works in the White House Office of Political Affairs, conducted a PowerPoint presentation on the 2008 political outlook at that Jan. 26 meeting.
Doan was grilled mercilessly on Wednesday by Democrats on the panel over her comments at the gathering, which reportedly included her asking others in attendance what they could do “to help our candidates” in next year’s election. Doan said she could not recall making that comment, although at least two GSA officials have told committee investigators under oath that she did.
Now it’s Rove’s turn. With the House and Senate Judiciary committees already seeking his testimony under oath regarding any role that he might have had in the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys, Waxman wants Rove to answer the questions below, and he’s giving Rove until April 13 to comply. No word on whether Waxman will try to subpoena Rove or Jennings if the White House doesn’t respond to his request for information, but after Doan’s horrific performance on Wednesday, it could happen.