Bush Chief of Staff May Face Contempt Charge

White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten may face contempt charges over the administration's refusal  to turn over subpoenened documents. A House panel yesterday voted 7-3 to reject the White House contention that the documents—sought in the probe of the dismissals of US attorneys—are covered by executive privilege, Reuters reports.

"Those claims are not legally valid," said chairwoman Linda Sanchez. "It is better for them to co-operate than continue this confrontation." A White House spokesman responded that the committee is "less successful at getting facts than making headlines." The committee has also threatened contempt proceedings against White House counsel Harriet Miers. (More House Judiciary Committee stories.)