Political prosectutions

Maybe this story will finally get some attention.

WASHINGTON, March 1 — A House Judiciary subcommittee voted Thursday to issue subpoenas requiring testimony from four of the eight United States attorneys recently dismissed by the Justice Department.

The vote followed remarks this week in which one of the four, David C. Iglesias of New Mexico, said he believed that the motives for his ouster had been political. He and the three others subpoenaed — H. E. Cummins III of Arkansas, John McKay of Seattle and Carol C. Lam of San Diego — were chosen to give testimony because the circumstances of their dismissal are thought to be representative of those surrounding the removal of all eight, Congressional officials say.

The subpoenas order the four to testify at a hearing of the House subcommittee on Tuesday. The Senate Judiciary Committee has also invited dismissed prosecutors to testify that day and may consider issuing its own subpoenas if they do not. Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, a Democratic member of the committee who has led an investigation of the dismissals, said Thursday, “The U.S. attorneys will be coming, and now we will finally get to the bottom of this.”

The House panel acted after the prosecutors privately told lawmakers that they would not testify voluntarily, not wanting to get in the middle of what has grown into a serious political embarrassment for the Justice Department, but that they would give testimony if compelled.