Former White House political director Sara Taylor appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to testify on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys. Senator Patrick Leahy grilled Taylor on President Bush’s role in the attorney firings, but Taylor claimed Bush’s invocation of “executive privilege” prevented her from answering.

Sen. Patrick Leahy: “Did you speak with President Bush about replacing U.S. attorneys?”

Sara Taylor: “Senator Leahy, I have a letter from” —

Sen. Leahy: “That’s not my question. I’m not asking what was said or anything else. Did you speak with the president about replacing U.S. attorneys? Not what the content of the discussion — but did you speak with him, yes or no, about the replacement of U.S. attorneys?”

Taylor: “Senator, I have a very clear letter from [White House Counsel Fred] Fielding. That letter has asked me to follow the president’s assertion of executive privilege.”

Taylor went on to say President Bush did not speak to her about the firings and played little role in the discussions. Democrats say Bush shouldn’t have invoked executive privilege if his role was minimal. Meanwhile, former White House counsel Harriet Miers refused to follow her subpoena to testify. Miers has also been told by White House counsel Fred Fielding not to answer questions before Congress.