Judiciary mulling immunity for Justice aide pleading fifth
 Monica Goodling, the former top Justice Department aide whose attorneys accused House and Senate investigators of subjecting her to "McCarthyism," may receive immunity against prosecution from the House Judiciary Committee, RAW STORY has learned.
"As the White House Liaison in the Department while the US Attorney firings were planned and carried out, Ms. Goodling clearly has much to contribute to the Committee's understanding of the surrounding circumstances," said Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the Committee, in a statement released to RAW STORY. "I am hopeful we can approve immunity so that we can schedule her to testify as soon as possible and begin to clear up the many inconsistencies and gaps surrounding this matter."
Conyers will schedule a business meeting of his committee tomorrow at 10:15 AM to take up the matter. For the former White House liaison to receive immunity, 2/3 of the committee must vote to authorize it.
A spokesperson for her attorney, John M. Dowd of top Washington, DC law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld, said that he had no comment at this time but suggested he may release a statement soon.
Goodling prompted controversy when she announced through attorneys that she would refuse to testify before any Congressional committees on the grounds that she might incriminate herself. The House Judiciary Committee later issued a letter questioning her invocation of her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Subsequently, her attorneys accused the committee of "McCarthyism."
On Friday, April 6, Goodling suddenly resigned. She had already begun a leave of absence as the investigations advanced, and was known to be part of an internal investigation within the Justice Department related to the firing of 8 US Attorneys.
RAW STORY was awaiting comment from Committee Republicans on whether they would back the immunity vote tomorrow.
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