Democrats plan to subpoena Rove, call for special counsel for Gonzales

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Democrats plan to subpoena Rove, call for special counsel for Gonzales

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Senate Democrats said Thursday they planned to subpoena President Bush's top political aide, Karl Rove, and also called for a special counsel to investigate whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales committed perjury.

"We've now reached a point where the accumulated evidence shows that political considerations factored into the unprecedented firing of at least nine U.S. attorneys last year," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"Testimony and documents showed that the list was compiled based on input from the highest political ranks in the White House, including Mr. Rove. ..."

Leahy said he would also subpoena Jeffrey Scott Jennings, a special assistant to the president and deputy White House political director.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the announcements showed that "every day this Congress gets a little more out of control." He accused Congress of neglecting more important issues, such as pending appropriations legislation.

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