Laurie Kellman

July 28, 2005 | Law.com

With White House support, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist halted debate Tuesday on a $491 billion defense bill to set up a vote on contentious legislation that would prohibit suits against gun makers for damages resulting from unlawful use of a firearm or ammunition. "The president believes that the manufacturer of a legal product should not be held liable for the criminal misuse of that product by others," said a White House spokesman. "We look at it from a standpoint of stopping lawsuit abuse."

By Laurie Kellman

3 minute read

November 29, 2007 | Law.com

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy acknowledged explicitly Thursday that President Bush was not involved in the firings of U.S. Attorneys last winter and ruled illegal the president's executive privilege claims protecting his chief of staff, John Bolten, and former adviser Karl Rove. Leahy directed Bolten, Rove, former political director Sara Taylor and her deputy, J. Scott Jennings, to comply "immediately" with their subpoenas for documents and information about the White House's role in the firings.

By Laurie Kellman

3 minute read

August 03, 2007 | Law.com

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday scored its first public interview with a currently serving aide to President Bush about the firings of U.S. Attorneys. But the session with J. Scott Jennings yielded little more than an appeal for sympathy and a citation of Greek mythology. With top presidential aide Karl Rove skipping the hearing on Bush's orders, the committee had to make do with a Rove underling who made clear he was appearing only to signal goodwill and to avoid a contempt of Congress citation.

By Laurie Kellman

3 minute read

October 31, 2005 | New Jersey Law Journal

Lawyers could lose their licenses for a year for repeatedly filing frivolous lawsuits under a bill headed for passage in the House as part of the Republicans' drive to crack down on what they consider costly abuses of the legal system.

By Laurie Kellman THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

3 minute read

July 26, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

Senate Democrats called for a perjury investigation against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Thursday and subpoenaed top presidential aide Karl Rove in a deepening political and legal clash with the Bush administration.

By Laurie Kellman

6 minute read

June 14, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

Two congressional committees are issuing subpoenas for testimony from former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and former political director Sara Taylor on their roles in the firings of eight federal prosecutors, according to two officials familiar with the investigation.

By Laurie Kellman

5 minute read

July 31, 2008 | Law.com

A House panel voted Wednesday to cite Karl Rove, formerly President Bush's top aide, for contempt of Congress as its Senate counterpart explored punishment for alleged misdeeds by other administration officials. Voting 20-14 along party lines, the House Judiciary Committee cited Rove with contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to testify on allegations of improper White House influence over the Justice Department. Rove has denied any involvement with Justice decisions.

By Laurie Kellman

4 minute read

November 09, 2007 | Law.com

The Senate moved Thursday to confirm Michael Mukasey as the nation's newest attorney general. Supporters of the nominee said he's the best prospect lawmakers are going to get in the waning months of a Bush administration unwilling to nominate anyone else. Opponents were concerned that Mukasey didn't know if waterboarding is illegal torture. The debate came after a tense day of negotiations that at one point featured Majority Leader Harry Reid threatening to postpone Mukasey's confirmation until December.

By Laurie Kellman

5 minute read

July 11, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

President Bush ordered his former White House counsel, Harriet Miers, to defy a congressional subpoena and refuse to testify Thursday before a House panel investigating U.S. attorney firings.

By By LAURIE KELLMAN

3 minute read

July 24, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

House Democrats on Monday targeted two of President Bush's longtime aides for criminal contempt against Congress, escalating a legal fight over executive privilege and access to White House deliberations on the firings of federal prosecutors.

By Laurie Kellman

4 minute read