Conyers Offers Last Chance at Deal

The stalled investigation into the firing of several U.S. attorneys late last year is about to pick up steam.

From Raw Story:

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) will file a report today holding that two White House officials are in contempt of Congress for their continued refusal to honor subpoenas in connection with the controversial firing of US attorneys last year -- but he's offering one last chance to make a deal.

In a Monday letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding, Conyers wrote that he would be officially filing submitting the contempt report, a move which would allow the full House to later vote on the measure, but would stop the contempt process there if the White House would agree to a final compromise offer.

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So, what happens if there is no deal? In July, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski wrote a letter to the House Judiciary Committee making it clear that no U.S. attorney would prosecute a contempt charge. The U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeffrey Taylor, will make the final determination.

Harper's cites anonymous sources that Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey will not appoint a special prosecutor to look into the scandal.

The White House calls the subpoenas "futile."

A vote by the full House on the charges could take place as early as next week.