CNN.com
May 16, 2007
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department on Wednesday told
an angry Senate Judiciary Committee chairman it does not have
documents described in a subpoena that demands all materials
relating to Karl Rove's possible involvement in the U.S. attorney
firings.
Instead, it said, Rove's lawyer must have them.
The response from a top Justice Department official came just
hours after the chairman, Vermont Democrat Sen. Patrick Leahy
and the panel's top Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania,
chastised Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in a letter for
ignoring the subpoena's Tuesday deadline. (Read full story)
"You ignored the subpoena, did not come forward today,
did not produce the documents, and did not even offer an explanation
for your noncompliance," the two senators wrote in the
letter, sent Tuesday night.
"The committee intends to get to the truth."
A top Justice Department official responded Wednesday, saying
a further Justice Department search yielded only two documents
-- internal communications sent to Rove and others about a
planned news conference in New Mexico by dismissed U.S. Attorney
David Iglesias.
The newly released memo shows that Rove aide Scott Jennings
was concerned about allegations Iglesias was politically pressured
to resign.
Jennings told Rove and others he doubted "they can make
an allegation such as this go away so easily."
In the subpoena, Leahy had demanded all documents in the possession
of U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who investigated Rove
in connection with the disclosure of the identity of CIA operative
Valerie Plame.
But Assistant Attorney General Richard Hertling, Gonzales'
top link to Congress, told Leahy a search was conducted and
turned up nothing.
"None of those records are responsive to the committee's
subpoena. The electronic media was returned to Mr. Rove's counsel,
Mr. Robert Luskin, in a sealed condition," Hertling said.
Luskin did not return a call from CNN seeking comment on the
matter.
The Justice Department response was issued while Gonzales
was in San Antonio, Texas, addressing a closed meeting with
all 93 of the nation's U.S. attorneys.
Gonzales' deputy, Paul McNulty, had informed those attorneys
Monday that he will be resigning this summer.
Justice officials gave no indication Gonzales signaled any
intention of stepping down.
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