John Conyers: “this is a bit of an amazing short- sightedness on the part of Republican leadership in advancing the incredibly partisan…”

“this is a bit of an amazing short- sightedness on the part of Republican leadership in advancing the incredibly partisan resolutions like the one being sponsored by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) which, if actually passed, might do lasting damage to the institution of the presidency. This resolution, if I read it correctly, seeks to have the President divulge all records and documents relating to any assertion of executive privilege to where? The Congress? To the press? To the public? The administration has already joined with news organizations in seeking to make public both the legal papers filed by his lawyers and the judge's decisions concerning executive privilege. Questions about sealing such proceedings and preventing public access is, my colleagues, a question for the courts. It is one that our judicial system decides by hearings and carefully balancing the competing interests. Never in the history of the Congress has the Congress said we ought to take that over and ask you, Mr. President, to just cooperate with us. This is a meaningless resolution. The administration cannot do anything about this. These questions are court questions, questions already residing in the judiciary for determination. And if the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) were concerned about this issue, instead of attempting to politicize it, this resolution would be directed to the courts, not to ourselves or to the President of the United States.”