Deal Clears Way for Testimony of Miers, Rove, But No Reporters Allowed

A deal negotiated with the help of White House counsel Gregory Craig will allow a former holder of his job to testify in Congress about prosecutor firings without reporters or cameras present.

Former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former political adviser Karl Rove will testify about their roles in the firings of nine U.S. attorneys, and transcripts of the interviews will eventually be released, the Washington Post reports. Neither reporters nor members of the public will be allowed to attend the hearings.

Craig wanted to prevent a possible court ruling that would restrict the president in future disputes with other branches of government, the Post says.

The agreement provides that members of the House Judiciary Committee will not be able to ask about privileged conversations with White House lawyers; four pages of privileged materials will also be withheld, according to the Post. The deal also says lawmakers reserve the right to call the two former Bush administration officials for public testimony.

The committee will also be allowed to ask about the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who claims the case against him was politically motivated, the New York Times reports.

A special prosecutor is investigating the firings.

Additional coverage is in Legal Times.