White House Expands Exec Privilege Claims

White House officials have made a broad new claim to executive privilege that would block the Justice Department from pursuing contempt charges initiated by Congress, the Washington Post reports. Citing a Regan-era legal opinion, they argued that "A US attorney would not be permitted to bring contempt charges or convene a grand jury in an executive privilege case."

The assertion is the latest in a constitutional grappling match between Congress and President Bush over the firing of 9 US attorneys late last year. It presents new obstacles for Democrats who've threatened to bring contempt charges against former White House officials who are defying subpoenas on the president's orders.