Cheney: A Law Unto Himself? Veep refuses to comply with executive order signed by President Bush By News Dude, Newser Staff Posted Jun 24, 2007 8:25 AM CDT Copied President Bush, right, and Vice President Dick Cheney, center, meet with members of Congress, Wednesday, June 20, 2007, in the Oval Office at the White House. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif. is at left. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) (Associated Press) Vice President Cheney is refusing to comply with an executive order to compile classified documents used by his office. Cheney's theory is that because he has a limited role in the Senate – President he can break ties – he has immunity from executive orders. Time writer Michael Murphy sees this as a case of deja vu. He argues that we are experiencing an example of the continuing tension between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, "One side is completely comfortable with using its subpoena power against an executive branch, while the other is utterly content to ignore it." (More Dick Cheney stories.) Report an error