White House Asserts Executive Privilege

In a move that ought to surprise no one, the White House today asserted executive privilege and denied Congressional requests that two former White House aides, former counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor testify before the House and Senate Judicary Committees, respectively, the Associated Press reports. In a letter to the Chairmen of the two commitees, White House Counsel Fred Fielding also indicated that the Bush Administration was refusing to provide a further written explanation for its invocation of the privilege, as requested by the Committee leaders. It appears likely that, unless either side dramatically alters its position, this particular privilege dispute will find its way into court and, in all likelihood, all the way up the ladder to the Supreme Court.