contemptuous of Congress and of our laws

Ex-Bush aide won't answer Senate queries

WASHINGTON - Loyal even after leaving the White House, President Bush's former political director Sara M. Taylor obeyed his instructions and declined to answer most of Congress' questions Wednesday about her role in the firings of federal prosecutors.

But Democrats insisted that the decision to cooperate with their subpoena — or not — is hers.

"It is apparent that this White House is contemptuous of the Congress and feels that it does not have to explain itself to anybody," Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said as he opened the hearing. "I urge Ms. Taylor not to follow that contemptuous position and not to follow the White House down this path."

Taylor said she would answer only limited questions to comply with her former boss' directions, unless a court orders her to comply with the congressional subpoena instead.

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