Chairman Conyers Demands Karl Rove Testimony
April 17th, 2008 by Jesse LeeFrom the Judiciary Committee:
Conyers Demands Karl Rove Testimony (Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Committee Members Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Artur Davis (D-AL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) announced three critical actions in the Committee’s investigation into allegations of selective or poltiically-motivated prosecution in the Justice Department. The Members today invited Karl Rove to testify before the committee; urged the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility to investigate those allegations; and demanded that Attorney General Michael Mukasey provide additional documents on this subject.
Today’s actions result from the Committee’s majority staff report, also released today, which details the cases, interviews and documents they have reviewed since the Committee began its investigation last year.
“There continue to be numerous complaints of selective or politically motivated prosecution since our investigation began last year,” Conyers said. “The actions we are taking today, including calling Karl Rove to testify, are an effort to get to the bottom of this matter.”
Today’s announcement stems from the Committee’s 2007 oversight hearing on selective prosecution, during which testimony was heard and documents were entered into the record regarding cases from Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. Since the hearing, majority committee staff has continued its investigation with interviews and document collection about additional cases across the country.
“While this report is extensive and significant progress has been made in our investigation, many facts remain unknown,” Conyers said. “The Justice Department has simply not been forthcoming and I feel the only way to move this investigation forward is to seek further independent investigation and testimony from Karl Rove, who appears to be the missing link in a chain from the White House to the Justice Department.”
· Majority Staff Report on Allegations of Selective Prosecution and Additional Documents (pdf) >>
· Letter to Justice Department OIG/OPR (pdf) >>
· Letter to AG Mukasey (pdf) >>
Dear Mr. Rove:
We write seeking your appearance before the House Judiciary Committee to testify concerning the troubling issue of the politicization of the Department of Justice during this Administration, including allegations regarding the prosecution of former Governor of Alabama Don Siegelman. As you know, the Committee has received sworn testimony and reviewed extensive documents raising serious questions about actions you or your staff may have taken that brought political considerations to bear on prosecutorial operations of the Department. Against this background, we were pleased to read recent reports that your attorney has stated your willingness to testify before the Committee. Given the importance of these issues to the fair administration of justice in this country, your appearance to answer these charges is imperative.
In the case of the prosecution of former Governor Don Siegelman of Alabama, the Committee has received sworn testimony from an Alabama Republican attorney, Ms. Jill Simpson, that she heard two separate conversations in which it was discussed that you would contact the Department and press for the prosecution of Mr. Siegelman and the provision of Department resources to the matter. A detailed staff report released today puts Ms. Simpson’s testimony in the context of other testimony and evidence suggesting that you or other high-level Washington officials may have been involved in the Siegelman matter and describes several other disturbing and potentially political aspects of the prosecution.
In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, you respond by describing Ms. Simpson as a “complete lunatic” and asserting that she never mentioned your name during the deposition that she submitted to before Committee staff. In fact, Ms. Simpson actually referenced you several times at deposition. In any event, particularly since you have briefly commented on this matter in GQ and while serving as a commentator on Fox News, we believe the subject, like other serious charges regarding the role of politics at the Department of Justice, should be addressed before a key investigating Committee of Congress.
We look forward to scheduling an early date for your voluntary appearance. Committee staff will contact your attorney directly to make arrangements. Please direct any questions to the staff at the Judiciary Committee office, 2138 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. (tel: 202-225-3951, fax:: 202-225-7680).
Thank you in advance for your prompt cooperation.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr.
ChairmanLinda T. Sánchez
Chair, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative LawArtur Davis
Member, Committee on the JudiciaryTammy Baldwin
Member, Committee on the Judiciarycc: Hon. Lamar S. Smith
Hon. Chris Cannon
Mr. Robert Luskin