The current Congressional investigation into the eight fired US Attorneys reminds me of nothing so much as the unfolding of the Watergate scandal.  The early stages of that began in the summer of 1973.  At the time, I remember wondering “why is this taking so long?”  Now that I’m older I get a certain pathological amusement out of the escalating shenanigans.

The news for the past week is that Monica Goodling, one of the DOJ officials who was involved, has told Congress that she’s going to invoke her fifth amendment right to avoid testifying.  The question is, of course, “why?”  No one has accused her of a crime, nor has she been indicted or even formally subpoenaed. 

There’s much speculation that she was involved in briefing one of the previous witnesses.  If she deliberately withheld information from them, that’s a crime: it’s called “suborning perjury.”  If she gets in front of Congress and lies herself, that’s clearly perjury.  (Not a good idea; it got Slick Willy impeached, thus ending an otherwise interesting career.)

I really do hope they drag her in front of the House and force her to publicly and repeatedly take the 5th to each and every question in front of the cameras.  Friend of the Bushes or not, I wonder how long she’ll keep her job after that.