White House blocks subpoenas over fired prosecutors

By Thomas Ferraro and Tabassum Zakaria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush set up an anticipated court battle with the Democratic-led Congress on Thursday by refusing to comply with subpoenas in its widening probe of fired federal prosecutors.

"The president has decided to assert executive privilege and therefore the White House will not be making any production in response to these subpoenas for documents," White House counsel Fred Fielding wrote lawmakers.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy shot back, "Increasingly, the president and vice president feel they are above the law --- in America no one is above law."

"We will take the necessary steps to enforce our subpoenas, backed by the full force of law so that Congress and the public can get to the truth behind this matter," said Leahy, a Vermont Democrat.

Leahy likened Bush's action to the only U.S. president ever to resign, calling it "Nixonian stonewalling,"

The subpoenas were issued two weeks ago by Leahy and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat. They set Thursday as the deadline for turning over most documents.

Leahy and Conyers are investigating Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' firing last year of nine of the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys.

Gonzales, under pressure to resign, and Bush insist the dismissals were justified but mishandled.