Why isn't Karl Rove in jail? The president's pol-pal isn't too busy to appear as a commentator on Fox TV -- but he's defying Congressional law.

Lawmakers subpoenaed Rove in May. At issue, his role in illegal manipulation at the Department of Justice--firings, questionable prosecutions and more -- all in a quest to turn the nation's law enforcement arm into a band of GOP-backing partisan operatives.

Rove's used all sorts of fancy footwork to avoid testifying to Congress about what he knew and did. If Rove continues to ignore Congressional subpoenas, he could face being cited for contempt, and even jail.

Rove's attorneys, Patton Boggs, have pledged to fight in the courts to keep their client out of Congress. After Rove failed to appear Thursday, the Democratic chairman of a House subcommittee ruled that Rove was breaking the law by refusing to cooperate. But beyond that, Congress seems reluctant to go.

Three strikes and you're out. That's what the Bush crooks push on repeat-offenders less powerful than themselves. There are people facing 25-life in California today -- for shoplifting or stealing cookies as a third offense. Rove's refused to testify twice already. If Rove were cited for contempt of Congress, he would be the third Bush administration official so cited refusing to testify.

Rove evinces no sign of obeying Congressional subpoena. The MSM is using cute-words to describe it: Karl's "Standing up" or "snubbing" Congress. But that's not what they call it when the scofflaw's poor.

What Rove's actually doing is breaking the law. Now it's incumbent on the full Judiciary Committee and ultimately House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to decide whether to pursue contempt charges and what beyond that. If there's much more delay -- well, eventually, you've gotta wonder: Whose contempt is greater? Rove's -- for the whole ball of wax we used to call a Constitution. Or Congress's?

The F Word is a daily commentary by Laura Flanders on GRITtv. Watch GRITtv on Free Speech TV (Dish Network Ch. 9415) or at GRITtv.org. And become a subscriber.

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