Rove Avoids Subpoena by Fleeing the Country

ThinkProgress.org: This morning, Karl Rove refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee to testify about the politicization of the Justice Department, despite a subpoena. During the hearing, Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) revealed that Rove had not only skipped out of the hearing, but had skipped out of the entire country.

When ThinkProgress contacted Rove’s lawyer, his office confirmed that Rove was out of the country “on trip scheduled long before the subpoena was sent.” Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) said Rove’s attorney “never mentioned” this trip to the committee. Rove’s bogus claims of executive privilege were rejected by the Committee as “not valid” by a 7-1 vote. The committee gave Rove five days to comply with the subpoena.

Update: emptywheel notes Bush Did NOT Invoke Executive Privilege for Rove.

LSB: Not to worry. Just as Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton ignored Congressional subpoenas without repercussions, this toothless Congress will once again cave to this lowlife. Rove will continue to thumb his nose at the rule of law for a long time to come.