Conyers Wants To Offer Immunity To Monica Goodling

The House Judiciary Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider whether it will offer an immunity deal to Monica Goodling, a former senior advisor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, in retrun for her testimony.

Goodling, who left Justice recently, has declined to answer any questions about her role in or knowledge of the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. Goodling has cited her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself in a criminal case, and her attorneys have publicly stated Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty has told Democrats that he gave incorrect information to Congress regarding the prosecutor purge after being given that info by other DOJ aides.

A two-thirds majority of the committee must approve any immunity agreements.

"As the White House Liaison in the Department while the US Attorney firings were planned and carried out, Ms. Goodling clearly has much to contribute to the Committee's understanding of the surrounding circumstances,"  Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), chairman of House Judiciary, said in a statement released by the committee. "I am hopeful we can approve immunity so that we can schedule her to testify as soon as possible and begin to clear up the many inconsistencies and gaps surrounding this matter."