By Matt Renner, t r u t h o u t
Subpoenas issued Wednesday by Congress for testimony from former White House officials could lead to a constitutional crisis over the right of executive privilege.
Experts in constitutional law believe that the Bush administration will not comply with the Congressional subpoenas and will force a showdown. If individuals do not comply with the subpoenas, a vote can be taken to hold them in contempt of Congress. The issue would then be sent to the Washington, DC Circuit Court, where the US attorney for the District of Colombia could prosecute the case before a grand jury.
According to Stanley Brand, former counsel for the US House of Representatives, “It is doubtful that Jeffrey Taylor, the current US attorney for the District of Colombia would enforce Congressional subpoenas.” Taylor participated in drafting the Patriot Act and served as counselor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales prior to his installation as an interim US attorney for the District.