Former Bush Adviser to Say No to Senate
Published: 7/11/07, 3:45 AM EDT
By LAURIE KELLMAN
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush's former political director says she intends to follow his directive and not answer questions about her role in the administration's firing of federal prosecutors - unless a court directs her to defy her former boss.
"While I may be unable to answer certain questions today, I will answer those questions if the courts rule that this committee's need for the information outweighs the president's assertion of executive privilege," Sara M. Taylor, who left her White House job two months ago, said in remarks prepared for presentation to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
"Thanks for understanding," she added in the statement, made available in advance of the midmorning hearing.
Democrats insist that there are plenty about the firings that Taylor can discuss - and is compelled to reveal under a subpoena - that are not covered by Bush's executive privilege claim.
Her lawyer was expected to advise her as the hearing progressed on which questions she could or could not answer under the president's directive.
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