Rove, Miers to testify over U.S. Attorney firings

By Lisa Mascaro

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 | 5:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The House Judiciary Committee announced this afternoon that former Bush aides Karl Rove and Harriet Miers will testify in the unusual firing in late 2006 of nine U.S. Attorneys, including Nevada’s Daniel Bogden.

Rove and Miers had refused to appear before the committee, ignoring congressional subpoenas. Congress voted last year to hold them in contempt, opening legal proceedings to force the testimony from the former aides to President George W. Bush.

Rove and Miers are believed to have information about decisions leading to the firing of Bogden and the other attorneys. Congressional investigations into the firings led to widespread revelations of politicization in hiring at the Department of Justice, and ultimately to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

The reasons for Bogden’s dismissal have never been made clear as Justice officials offered shifting explanations. Gonzales eventually said he regretted that Bogden, a career prosecutor, had been let go.

Bogden tried to get his job back, but eventually went on to join a private sector firm in Nevada.

In the agreement reached, Rove and Miers will give transcribed depositions under penalty of perjury, the committee said.

“This is a victory for the separation of powers and congressional oversight,” said Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “I am determined to have it known whether U.S. Attorneys in the Department of Justice were fired for political reasons, and if so, by whom.”