Miers Will Not Appear

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) criticized former White House counsel Harriet Miers's decision not to appear before a subcommittee hearing Thursday to answer questions about her role in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys late last year.

A lawyer for Miers notified the committee on Wednesday that his client would not appear after initially telling aides she would appear but not answer questions in response to President Bush's order to invoke executive privilege.

"I am extremely disappointed in the White House's direction to Ms. Miers that she not even show up to assert the privilege before the Committee," Conyers said.  "We understand that the White House has asserted privilege over both her testimony and documents, and we are prepared to consider those claims at tomorrow's hearing."

Former White House political director Sara Taylor struggled to answer questions while observing the president's order during an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.