Conyers subpoenas DoJ for Bush interviews in Plame leak
 A House panel subpoenaed Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Friday for transcripts of interviews with President Bush and Vice President Cheney that have been withheld by the Department of Justice, according to a press release from the House Judiciary committee.
Committee Chairman John Conyers issued the subpoena, requesting documents that would include information about the Valeria Plame leak.
The interviews were conducted by former Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald outside the presence of the grand jury investigating the leaking of Plame's status as a CIA officer.
The subpoena also requests transcripts of Fitzgerald's interviews with former presidential adviser Karl Rove, Cheney's former chief of staff Scooter Libby, former White House spokesman Scott McClellan, former presidential counselor Dan Bartlett and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card.
In addition to the Plame leak, Conyers requested documents regarding a New Hampshire phone jamming investigation during the 2002 election, the replacement of Minnesota US Attorney Heffelfinger, the possible selective prosecution of politicians like Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, and several other issues.
The subpoena includes a broad request for information about the opinions of the DoJ's Office of Legal Counsel on issues of national security, war, terrorism, civil rights and others, and cites an October 23, 2001 memorandum concerning the legal authority to use military force to combat terrorist activities in the US.
The following is an excerpt from Conyers signed letter to Mukasey explaining the necessity of subpoena, normally used only "as a last resort."
"We have concluded that a subpoena is warranted in this instance in light of our many prior requests for these documents. We trust that this subpoena will now facilitate the prompt production of the requested documents."
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