The Democrats in Congress are beginning to make their newly-won muscle count, with two developments that further increase the pressure on the Bush administration. The house of representatives' committee on oversight and government voted to serve Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state, with a subpoena to force her to testify on the White House's pre-war claims that Iraq was trying to buy uranium. Meanwhile, the house judiciary committee voted granted immunity to a former aide to Alberto Gonzales to testify on why eight federal prosecutors were fired.
The two moves show that the pace of investigation is stepping up. The granting of immunity to Monica Goodling - who had earlier refused to testify for fear of incriminating herself - is significant, a further move pressing the embattled attorney-general Gonzales. President Bush has previously declared his support and confidence for Gonzales - but Goodling's testimony may reveal the basis for the firings, and any political involvement of the White House.
The subpoena that could be served on Rice opens another can of worms: the vexed and inaccurate claim that Iraq had attempted to buy uranium from Niger as mentioned in the president's 2003 state of the union address. It was that issue that led to the outing of CIA employee Valerie Plame and the eventual conviction for contempt of Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's chief of staff.
Much as the administration would like these issues to fade away, the Democrat majority allows them to control the agenda and issue subpoenas.
