Ex-Gonzales aide immunized from prosecution

Michael Roston

Published: Friday May 11, 2007 Print This Email This

A federal judge immunized the former White House liaison to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Friday morning, protecting her from prosecution on a limited basis for testimony she may give to Congress on the firing of US Attorneys.

Rep. John Conyers, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who sought the order, said in a statement sent to RAW STORY that hearing from Monica Goodling was "critical."

"Monica Goodling is a critical witness to this ongoing investigation. We look forward to hearing her testimony as promptly as possible," he said.

Thomas Hogan, the federal district judge who issued the order, said Goodling could no longer claim testifying would result in self-incrimination.

"Monica Goodling may not refuse to testify, and may not refuse to provide other information, when compelled to do so," Hogan wrote in his order, according to the Bloomberg News.

When Goodling was first identified as a target of Congress's investigation, she told the House and Senate Judiciary Committees through her attorney that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify. When the House Judiciary Committee questioned the basis for her assertion of her rights, her lawyer accused them of carrying out a "McCarthyist" probe.

However, as Bloomberg pointed out, she has agreed to testify now that the immunity order has been granted.

On Monday, the Justice Department investigators who are looking into Goodling's activities consented to the immunity deal, finding that it would not interfere with their investigation.



