The House Judiciary Committee approved contempt citations against top Bush administration officials, Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers, for refusing to testify in about the firings of the U.S. Attorneys. While a vote was expected early this year, that vote has been delayed in the spirit of bi-partisanship:

House Democrats will postpone votes on criminal contempt citations against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers, while congressional leaders work with President Bush on a bipartisan stimulus package to fend off an economic downturn, according to party leaders and leadership aides.

Senior Democrats have decided that holding a controversial vote on the contempt citations, which have already been approved by the House Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, would “step on their message” of bipartisan unity in the midst of the stimulus package talks.