Subpoenas authorised for top Bush aides in sackings dispute

A UNITED States Senate panel has authorised subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the sacking of federal prosecutors.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, by voice vote, approved the subpoenas as Republicans and Democrats sparred over whether to press a showdown with the president over the sacking of eight US attorneys.

Democrats angrily rejected George W Bush’s offer to grant a limited number of politicians private interviews with the aides with no transcript and without swearing them in. Republicans asked for restraint.

Of the subpoenas, Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, said: “We’re authorising that ability but we’re not issuing them. It’ll only strengthen our hand in getting to the bottom of this.”

Republicans said, however, that subpoenas were premature. “I counsel my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, to work hard to avoid an impasse. We don’t need a constitutional confrontation,” said Senator Arlen Specter, the panel’s top Republican.

Even as Democrats derided the White House’s offer, Bush spokesman Tony Snow maintained that politicians will realise it is fair and reasonable once they reflect on it. “We’re not trying to hide things. We’re not trying to run from things,” he said. “We want them to know what happened.”

The president insists the sackings of the prosecutors over the past year were appropriate, while Democrats argue they were politically motivated. Snow added: “I know a lot of people want this ‘Showdown at the OK Corral’ kind of thing. People might have a beef if we were withholding anything. We’re not.”