http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/conyers-welcomes-administrations-negotiation-offer-2008-08-08.html Conyers welcomes administration's negotiation offer
By Susan Crabtree
Posted: 08/08/08 06:23 PM
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) Friday welcomed a new White House entreaty to resume negotiations over the testimony of several senior administration officials before the Judiciary Committee on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys last year.
But, he argued, a federal judge should not grant the White House’s request to stay a ruling last week that would require White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers to testify about what role, if any, they played in the Justice Department firings.
"I am glad that {White House counsel Fred} Fielding has agreed to my suggestion of attempting to resolve this matter by negotiations, and we will, of course, set up a meeting with his staff for next week. I look forward to meeting with Mr. Fielding directly as well,” Conyers said in a written statement. “At the same time, given the lateness in the Congress, I do not believe a stay of Judge Bates' order is necessary or appropriate."
Fielding wrote Conyers Friday informing him of Bolten’s and Miers’ decision to appeal last week’s ruling and request a stay.
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Negotiations with Democrats in Congress over the testimony of Miers and other top aides broke down more than a year ago when Democrats refused a White House offer to allow testimony only in private with no oath and no transcript.
Conyers and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) rejected that offer and issued subpoenas.