WASHINGTON — Former White House political director Karl Rove ignored a subpoena and failed to appear Thursday before a U.S. House panel investigating whether the Justice Department prosecuted people for political reasons.

Rove’s action prompted the House Judiciary subcommittee to rule that his reasons for skipping the appearance weren’t legally valid, setting up a possible contempt of Congress vote as soon as next week.

“I’m extremely disappointed and extremely concerned that Mr. Rove has decided to forgo this opportunity,” said Rep. Linda Sanchez, a California Democrat who heads the commercial and administrative law subcommittee.

Her finding that Rove’s executive privilege claims weren’t proper was approved by a party-line 7-1 vote, with all Democrats agreeing.

Republican Rep. Chris Cannon of Utah called Thursday’s hearing “a partisan stunt” and said Rove was out of town on a long-planned trip.

The panel is trying to determine whether partisan politics influenced the Justice Department’s decision to bring a corruption case against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat.

Rove has rejected the notion and said he would speak with the committee only in private, not under oath and without a transcript. He also proposed answering questions in writing.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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This article was published July 10, 2008 at 11:15 a.m.

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