House Subpoenas Gonzo

Alberto Gonzales got served yesterday, as House Dems issued their first subpoena in the attorney-firing scandal. They want the AG to turn over hundreds of pages of new or uncensored documents, including a complete version of the March 2005 chart Gonzales and chief-of-staff Kyle Sampson used to evaluate all 93 U.S. attorneys—and that allegedly served as the basis for firing the eight.

The White House is balking, but its legal options are limited: refusing to comply could result in contempt of Congress and potential criminal charges. The political cost may be even higher. In a new Los Angeles Times poll, 74% of Americans say they want the administration to comply with the Congressional investigation—and 53% say Gonzales should step down immediately. (More Alberto Gonzales stories.)