House Democrats Pick Up Outside Support In Miers-Bolten Lawsuit

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  Lawyers representing the House Judiciary Committee are asking a federal judge to enforce subpoenas issued by the panel against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers.

The committee has also picked up some support in its fight - a coalition of former U.S. attorneys, watchdog groups, congressional experts, and current and former lawmakers filed briefs backing the panel's efforts in their own legal briefs filed today.

"The Departments' motion and oposition, on behalf of Harriet Miers, and Joshua Bolten ('the defendants') are the culmination of a series of actions - including false and misleading public statements by Department officials, including the former Attorney General; White House refusals to negotiate in good fairth; and defendants' contumacious disobedience to valudly issued and served congressional subponeas - to cover up Executive Branch activities and to inhibit a core function of the Legislative Branch," the committee's brief states.