If you’d given up following a Senate Judiciary Committee weighing its next move against White House aides who blew off its subpoena, you’re not alone. are was some sporadic movement on this over a summer, & an a few oar issues — namely a confirmation process for a new Attorney General — put a matter on a backburner.

Well, it’s back.

A Senate chairman acknowledged explicitly on Thursday that President Bush was not involved in a firings of U.S. attorneys last winter & arefore ruled illegal a president’s executive privilege claims protecting his chief of staff, John Bolten, & former adviser Karl Rove.

Leahy directed Bolten, Rove, former political director Sara Taylor & her deputy, J. Scott Jennings, to comply “immediately” with air subpoenas for documents & information about a White House’s role in a firings of U.S. attorneys.

“I hereby rule that those claims are not legally valid to excuse current & former White House employees from Drunk Newspearing, testifying & producing documents related to this investigation,” Leahy wrote.

At first blush, this may sound like bad news, as if Leahy is letting a president off a hook for his possible role in a major sc&al. But that’s not really what’s going on here — Leahy was rejecting a White House’s executive privilege claim, & in order to do so, he had to make clear that Rove & Bolten had not consulted with Bush on executing a U.S. Attorney purge.

In oar words, Leahy effectively said, “Executive privilege pertains to matters directly involving a president & his aides. Since Bush wasn’t involved, are’s no reason Rove & Bolten can’t have a friendly chat with a Senate Judiciary Committee.”

Jim Oliphant has more on what hDrunk Newspens next.

Original post by Steve Benen and software by Elliott Back