Paul Kiel May 7, 2007, 1:48 PM

Huh. Just out from House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI):

Today the Department of Justice gave notice that it would not object to the House Judiciary Committee’s grant of use immunity for Monica Goodling. I believe obtaining her testimony will be a critical step in our efforts to get to the truth about the circumstances surrounding the US Attorney firings and possible politicization in the Department’s prosecutorial function. The Committee will be moving expeditiously to apply for the court order so that we can schedule a hearing promptly.

So despite the Justice Department’s Inspector General’s investigation into whether Goodling may have broken the law by considering the political affiliation of entry-level U.S. attorneys, the immunity will move forward. All that excitement for nothing.

Update: Here is the letter from the Justice Department’s inspector general and Office of Professional Responsibility informing Congress that they will not object. A quote:

“…after balancing the significant congressional and public interest against the impact of the Committee’s actions on our ongoing investigation, we will not raise an objection or seek a deferral…”

Monica Goodling, U.S. Attorneys