CNN is reporting that Conyers has reached a deal with the White House Department of Justice that will allow up to seven administration DOJ officials to be interviewed regarding the USA firings.
However, the "interviews" would be in private.
More after the fold.
A spokesman for House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Michigan, said the committee has reached an agreement with the Department of Justice that will make available seven DOJ officials for transcribed interviews behind closed doors.
Link
A spokesman for Conyers goes on to say that this does not mean their won't be hearings or the interviews are in lieu of sworn testimony, but I have to say that I am very uncomfortable about this.
I get the feeling that once Conyers has completed these interviews, the DOJ can fall back on the claim that they provided the officials so why follow the subpeonas.
I am willing to hold out hope that this is just a start, but I am of the opinion that this should be on the record, under oath, and in public with a full transcript.
Did our side blink on this one? I don't know.
But I certainly hope not.
Update: It looks like the seven will be: Paul McNulty, Michael Battle, Monica Goodling (if she doesn't invoke the 5th), William Mercer, David Margolis, Michael Elston, and William Moschella.
Update - 5:27 PM Arizona Time: Raw Story is reporting that Goodling will continue to invoke her 5th Amendment rights and the contents of the interviews will be kept confidential for the time being. Link.
Also, these are DOJ officials and not White House personnel, so I have updated the diary to reflect. Thank you to those who pointed that out in the comments!