In another personnel change, the Bush administration has announced the departure of White House counsel Harriet Miers. Miers was nominated to replace Sandra Day O’Conor on the Supreme Court in 2005 but withdrew her candidacy after opposition from the Republican Senate. The Bush administration reportedly decided to replace Miers over concerns she was ill-equipped to defend against anticipated challenges from the new Democrat-controlled Congress. A Republican adviser to the administration told The Washington Post: “The White House knew they needed to get a tough street fighter — that’s what this is about.” Justice Department officials have already met with counterparts at other agencies to map out possible legal strategies on congressional demands for information on issues including the treatment of detainees and the White House response to Hurricane Katrina.