Nominee must talk, or recuse herself

I applaud The Herald’s call for a thorough, respectful confirmation process for Harriet Miers. If documents relating to her legal activities as counsel to the president are not released for reasons of “executive privilege” or “attorney-client privilege,” and she herself chooses not to speak of her time as counsel and deputy chief of staff for policy at the White House, a thorough process may not be possible.

She faces a choice: Either speak candidly about her knowledge and/or involvement in serious legal questions surrounding this administration – the justification for war in Iraq, the outing of CIA agent Valerie Wilson, etc. – or pledge to recuse herself from all these cases should they ever appear before the Supreme Court.

Christopher R. Lightfoot

Shoreline