House Holds 2 Bush Aides in Contempt

Dems vote against Bolten, Miers, while GOP walks out
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 14, 2008 5:18 PM CST
House Holds 2 Bush Aides in Contempt
President Bush makes statement regarding the "Protect America Act", Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)   (Associated Press)

The House voted today to hold two Bush insiders guilty of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate in last year's US attorneys scandal, the AP reports. Angry  Republicans boycotted the vote and walked out in protest. Democrats censured chief of staff Josh Bolten and former Bush counsel Harriet Miers for ignoring congressional subpoenas into whether prosecutors were fired for political reasons.

Republicans were incensed that House Democrats voted on the contempt charges instead of acting on soon-to-expire surveillance legislation. Democrats accused their rivals of fear-mongering in the ongoing partisan battle over executive privilege. "This is beyond arrogance," said Dem Nancy Pelosi. "This is hubris taken to the ultimate degree." (More US attorney firings stories.)

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