It's "BREAKING NEWS" at MSNBC that the White House and Cheney have been hit with subpoenas on the illegal wiretaps.
There's not alot more at this time. I will keep updating as more information comes my way. It looks like the scope of the subpoeans is quite broad. And also hits the DOJ and National Security Council.
The subpoenas come out of Leahy's committee. According to the AP report:
The Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney's office Wednesday for documents relating to President Bush's warrant-free eavesdropping program.
Also named in subpoenas signed by committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., were the Justice Department and the National Security Council.
The committee wants documents that might shed light on internal squabbles within the administration over the legality of the program, said a congressional official speaking on condition of anonymity because the subpoenas had not been made public.
AP Story
UPDATE: Here's Leahy's statement:
Chairman Leahy issued subpoenas to the Department of Justice, the Office of the White House, the Office of the Vice President and the National Security Council for documents relating to the Committee’s inquiry into the warrantless electronic surveillance program. [...]
"Over the past 18 months, this Committee has made no fewer than nine formal requests to the Department of Justice and to the White House, seeking information and documents about the authorization of and legal justification for this program," Chairman Leahy wrote in letters accompanying the subpoenas to Bush Administration officials. "All requests have been rebuffed. Our attempts to obtain information through testimony of Administration witnesses have been met with a consistent pattern of evasion and misdirection."
ThinkProgress Story with Leahy Statement -link tip from Roger in DE
UPDATE 2: I note that the White House is already...gasp...taking the "pound sand" approach. According to the CNN version of the AP story:
Echoing its response to previous congressional subpoenas to former administration officials Harriet Miers and Sara Taylor, the White House gave no indication that it would comply.
"We're aware of the committee's action and will respond appropriately," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.
"It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation."
The showdown between the White House and Congress could land in federal court.
CNN Link - WH Responds
Still in all, the timing is exquisite. Particularly with the large series in the WaPo regarding the Madness of King Cheney and his secession from the United States government. I wonder if Leahy realized that this was a perfect moment to strike.
UPDATE 3:Here's what the Committee is looking for from the perps:
The subpoenas seek documents related to authorization and reauthorization of the program or programs; the legal analysis or opinions about the surveillance; orders, decisions, or opinions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) concerning the surveillance; agreements between the Executive Branch and telecommunications or other companies regarding liability for assisting with or participating in the surveillance; and documents concerning the shutting down of an investigation of the Department of Justice’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) relating to the surveillance.
Also, per Spencer Ackerman at TPMuckraker, claims of privilege must be specific:
If the administration wants to assert privilege over any of the subpoenaed material or testimony, it must specify the basis of that assertion "in sufficient detail to ascertain the validity of the claim," rather than relying on blanket claims of congressional impertinence.
Rules for Privilege Claims
At any rate...you can find all this and much more at the Senate Judiciary site. If you follow the links at the bottom of Leahy's statement, you will get to the subpoenas themselves as well as a lengthy letter to Fred Fielding, the chief WH counsel.
Leahy's Statement and Subpoenas