Mukasey refuses to say if he was told not to enforce subpoenas

[AnnInLa]

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2008/02/07/mukasey-refuses-to-say-whether-he-was-instructed-not-to-enforce-subpoenas/

This was stunning stuff. I'm going to hunt down a YouTube. But for now, understand that AG Muksey refused to answer Robert Wexler's question of whether or not the AG had been instructed not to enforce the subpoenas of Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten. Here's the liveblog excerpt:

Wexler: Failure to reply to Congressional subpoenas. Refusal of Bolten and Miers to even appear. Have you been instructed by POTUS to enforce or not to enforce subpoenas.

MM: I can't say.

Wexler: Can you tell me the individual that Clinton instructed not to appear?

MM: Dellinger wrote an opinion.

Wexler: I didn't ask opinions. I asked about the President instructing someone not to appear. Have you been instructed to enforce or not to enforce contempt citations.

MM: That's privileged.

Wexler: Should Congress pass a contempt citation would you enforce it?

MM: If you're talking about a contempt citation based on Bolten's failure to appear--he can't violate the President's request.

Wexler: Are you the people's lawyer or the President's?

MM: AG of US.

Shouldn't Mukasey be able to say, "it would be inappropriate for me to discuss these subpoenas with my superiors, Bush, Dick, and Addington"?

(I think Clinton = bush, and he misspoke?)

[DCKit]

1. There is no "privilege" for the AG to claim.

He is not the WH counsel or the pResident's personal lawyer.

[rudy23]

2. Thanks Schumer and Feinstein!

No really, we'll never forget it.

[malaise]

3. Waterboard him

He'll talk.