Well, that didn't take long.
Yesterday, Nancy Pelosi gave "Attorney General" Michael Mukasey one week to answer her official referral of the House's contempt of Congress citations against Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten. Mukasey, toeing the "administration" line, didn't bother to wait, but did do exactly what he told the Judiciary Committee he'd do in his last appearance there: he refused to refer the charges to a grand jury, and will thereby prevent the U.S. Attorney from prosecuting.
For those who've somehow missed the story, that means that:
- The Congressional investigation into whether or not the U.S. Attorneys have been overly politicized and are taking their prosecution orders from the White House will not go forward
- because the White House has ordered the U.S. Attorney not to proceed
- with the prosecution of the people who have defied their subpoenas and refused to testify
- about whether or not the White House is calling the shots for the U.S. Attorneys.
Got it?
Subpoena power!
What happens next? The Judiciary Committee files a civil suit seeking to enforce their subpoenas.
What doesn't happen next? Inherent contempt.