WASHINGTON

– U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the President for not allowing a former aide to fully testify before the Committee about the ongoing investigation into the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys.

Sara Taylor, former Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Political Affairs at the White House, was subpoenaed by the Senate Judiciary Committee to learn more about the extent of White House political appointees’ involvement in the firings of the U.S. Attorneys.
 

On Monday, White House Counsel Fred Fielding sent a letter to Ms. Taylor’s lawyer regarding today’s testimony which stated that “the President has decided to assert Executive Privilege” with respect to her testimony and that “the President has directed her not to provide this testimony.”

Senator Cardin released the following statement in response to Ms. Taylor’s invoking Executive Privilege on numerous questions:

“Congress has a constitutional obligation and responsibility to investigate the circumstances surrounding the firings of these U.S. Attorneys,” said Sen. Cardin.
  “We have a solemn duty to find the facts and make sure that the Justice Department is not politicized.
  Federal prosecutors must make their decisions on whether or not to pursue a criminal investigation based on the rule of law, and should not have to fear retaliation from political appointees in the Justice Department or White House.”