Bush Invokes Executive Privilege, Refuses To Turn Over U.S. Attorney Documents

President Bush has invoked executive privilege and is refusing to turn over to congressional investigators any White House documents related to the U.S. attorney firings.

In a letter today to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.), Solicitor General Paul Clement informed the two lawmakers that Bush "has decided to assert Executive Privilege and therefore the White House will no be making any production in response to these subpoenas for documents."

Clement, who is taking the lead on this issue because Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other top Justice Department officials have recused themselves, said that the White House tried to find a compromise with Democrats but were rebuffed.

"With respect, it is with much regret that we are forced down this unfortunate path which we sought to avoid by finding grounds for mutual accommodation," Clement wrote. "We had hoped this matter could conclude with your Committees receiving information in lieu of having to invoke Executive Privilege. Instead, we are at this conclusion."