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The problem with pursuing justice with the Bush administration is the utter lack of respect for the rule of law that they exhibit regularly. In the case of the prosecution and incarceration of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman, Karl Rove initially told the House Judiciary Committee that he would only speak to them in private, not under oath and with no transcript. Then he changed his mind and said he'd only respond to their questions in writing.

Well, that's just not good enough for HJC member Rep. Robert Wexler (and frankly, it shouldn't be good enough for anyone. Can you imagine telling a judge that you're not going to come in to testify in a case, but he can ask you questions in writing?) and he told host Dan Abrams and Don Siegelman that no matter what obstacle the White House throws in his way, he'll keep pursuing justice for Siegelman.

We would much prefer Mr. Rove voluntarily agreed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee, as would any other American citizen. But my view is that if he refuses to come voluntarily, we must first subpoena him, and if he refuses to honor the subpoena then the full House of Representatives must hold Mr. Rove in Contempt of Congress. And then we must ask the Attorney General to enforce the Contempt of Congress subpoena or citation. And if the Attorney General refuses to do so, which Mr. Mukasey said previously before the Judiciary Committee that he would, then I believe, reluctantly, we need to literally uphold the checks and balances that this administration has so abused and then we need to go the extraordinary step of issuing an Inherent Contempt of Congress.

The full segment available online at MSNBC.