Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy issued a new August 20 deadline for Bush Administration officials to answer a subpoena for warrantless wiretap documents. In a letter sent to White House Counsel Fred Fielding, Senator Leahy wrote: "You have rejected every proposal, produced none of the responsive documents, provided no basis for any claim of privilege and no accompanying log of withheld documents."
The Judiciary Committee issued the original subpoena over a month ago on June 27. The White House first asked for the deadline to be extended to July 18.
Read the letter below:
August 8, 2007
Fred Fielding, Esq.Counsel to the PresidentThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. Fielding:
As you know, on June 27, 2007 the Senate Judiciary Committee served subpoenas on the White House Office, the Office of the Vice President, the National Security Council, and the Department of Justice for documents related to legal justifications for and authorization of the National Security Agency's warrantless electronic surveillance program. The return date for those subpoenas was set for July 18, 2007. I had a telephone conversation with you and Josh Bolten in which you asked for a brief extension of time to allow for thorough collection and review of responsive documents. At that time you mentioned August 1 as the time you thought you would need.
Despite my patience and flexibility, you have rejected every proposal, produced none of the responsive documents, provided no basis for any claim of privilege and no accompanying log of withheld documents. I had been requesting this information for an extended time before issuing the subpoenas.
I am setting as the new return date for these four subpoenas August 20, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. I look forward to compliance with the Judiciary Committee's June 27, 2007 subpoenas to the White House Office, the Office of the Vice President, the National Security Council, and the Department of Justice by the new return date of August 20, 2007 at 2:30 p.m., in the place and manner indicated in the subpoenas.
Sincerely,
PATRICK LEAHYChairman