A House panel slapped Karl Rove with a subpoena today to compel his testimony on the White House's role in the firing of federal attorneys and the prosecution of Democratic Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, the Chicago Tribune reports. Rove, due to appear July 10, refused requests to speak voluntarily to the committee. His lawyer called the move a "gratuitous confrontation."
"It is unfortunate that Mr. Rove has failed to cooperate with our requests," said Rep. John Conyers. "Although he does not seem the least bit hesitant to discuss these very issues weekly on cable television and in the print news media, Mr. Rove and his attorney have apparently concluded that a public hearing room would not be appropriate." (More Karl Rove stories.)