Conyers and WH Counsel to Meet as “Early As Next Week”Things are moving right along in the wake of the HJC v. Miers decision last week.
White House Counsel Fred Fielding has already responded to Rep. John Conyer’s (D-MI) letter requesting “quick compliance” with the ruling and an answer to the subpoena issued to White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten for documents relating to the politicization of the Department of Justice.
Fielding (predictably) demurred, citing the recent motion for appeal, but he did comply to Conyer’s other request: a meeting between the two parties to try to “work cooperatively to resolve these issues.” From Fielding’s letter to Chairman Conyers:
However, the fact that the Executive has noticed an appeal in this matter does not signify that we think further litigation is the exclusive path forward… this Administration has responded to more than 650 Congressional inquiries and investigations, and through negotiation and accommodation with Congressional committees has been able to resolve all but a very few of them… Toward that end, and hopefully as a prelude to meaningful discussions between us, I propose that members of our respective staffs meet as early as next week to re-commence discussing possibilities for reaching an accommodation between the Branches in this matter.