Former Bush aide Rove again subpoenaed in probe

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Karl Rove, who had been one of President George W. Bush's top aides, was subpoenaed on Thursday for a second time to testify in a congressional probe of the administration's firing of federal prosecutors.

The former deputy White House chief of staff quickly indicated through his attorney he would again refuse, citing executive privilege that protects conversations between a president and his staff.

House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers issued the subpoena for Rove to testify on July 10 after months of failed efforts to get him to voluntarily answer questions under oath about the 2006 firing of nine of 93 U.S. attorneys. Critics charge the dismissals were politically motivated. Rove and the White House have denied any wrongdoing.

In December, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to hold Rove and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten in contempt for failing to comply with its subpoenas in the same probe.

"While the (House) committee has the authority to issue a subpoena, it is hard to see what this will accomplish, apart from a ... replay of the same issues that are already the subject of litigation," Rove's attorney, Robert Luskin, wrote Conyers, a Michigan Democrat.

A court fight over the subpoenas may not be settled until after Bush's term ends in January.

Democrats have charged the firings may have been in retaliation for prosecutors being too soft on Democratic lawmakers or too tough on Republican ones. The controversy ignited a firestorm that led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Rove stepped down as deputy White House chief of staff last year. He had also served as Bush's political strategist and is now a political commentator.  Continued...