WASHINGTON D.C. - Reacting to news reports of Vice President Dick Cheney's claim to membership in the legislative branch, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asserted executive privilege Friday as the reason for refusing a routine request for documents relating to an upcoming July 4 "Energy Independence Day" bill from House Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell.
The Speaker of the House is entitled to a claim of executive powers as the third person in line to the Presidency, Pelosi told a group of reporters gathered outside the Rayburn Office Building on Friday. "The Constitution lays out a clear role for the House Speaker in the event of the impeachment and removal of both the President and the Vice President," the California Democrat said.
"In spite of our policy disagreements, Vice President Cheney and I agree that the Constitutional tradition of 'blending of powers' established by our forefathers shall endure," Pelosi said in an unprepared statement. "To that effect, John Conyers will be presiding over the Vice President's impeachment trial," she added, referring to the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
After making her remarks to the press, witnesses report that Speaker Pelosi was overheard saying to an aide, "Two can play at this game."
Historically, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has presided over impeachment trials. When reached for comment, Chief Justice John Roberts initially gave a guarded reaction, saying, "I don't want to say anything that might be prejudicial toward any ruling I might make in the future."
When reminded that his Senate confirmation hearings concluded in September of 2005, the newly-appointed Chief Justice added, "To be fair to Vice President Cheney and Speaker Pelosi, Justice Scalia has been legislating from the bench since before I was an intern. The Court probably won't interfere in this matter."
Even if led by Conyers, who drafted articles of impeachment against former President Richard Nixon, a trial is unlikely to go forward. Vice President Cheney has said in previous statements that he will filibuster any motion for impeachment.