She's taking the 5th.

Monica Goodling, graduate of Pat Robertson's own Regent University, liaison between the White House and the Justice Department in the matter of the dismissed US attorneys, and recipient of a Congressional subpoena, will not be testifying.  Will be taking the 5th.  But isn't in the least guilty, according to her lawyer, John Dowd.

A lawyer for a Justice Department official involved in the controversial firings of eight United States attorneys said today that his client would not testify on Capitol Hill because she is convinced she would not be treated fairly. The official, Monica Goodling, the Justice Department’s liaison to the White House, is invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and so will decline to answer “any and all questions regarding the firings,” her lawyer, John M. Dowd, said.

Mr. Dowd added that it would be impossible to get a fair hearing in Congress -- in "this hostile and questionable environment" he actually said.  I see from his cv that he specializes in complex cases, by his own account.  He certainly is off on the wrong foot complex footing with Senate Justice Committee Chair, Senator Leahy.

“For example, you, Mr. Chairman, have concluded that the attorney general and deputy attorney general ‘failed to tell Congress the whole truth about this matter under oath,’ ” Mr. Dowd told Mr. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont.

Mr. Dowd also cited remarks by another committee Democrat, Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, who asserted on March 13 that the Justice Department statement’s about the firings consisted of “misleading statement after misleading statement.” Such remarks illustrate the hostile atmosphere permeating the controversy over the firings, Mr. Dowd said.

“The potential for legal jeopardy for Ms. Goodling from even her most truthful and accurate testimony under these circumstances is very real,” Mr. Dowd said. “One need look no further than the recent circumstances and proceedings involving Lewis Libby.” ...

And Monica Goodling doesn't want to play fall gal to Scooter Libby's fall guy.  Understandably.

Mr. Dowd’s combative letter to Mr. Leahy, who has already expressed his anger over what he described as a lack of cooperation from the Bush administration, is likely to intensify the battle between the White House and Congress.

Patrick Fitzgerald, Congress, undercover CIA agents, any and all Democrats -- their whole purpose in life is to bring down the decent, honest, and noble presidency of our glorious leader, George W. Bush.

You don't believe that?  Keep in mind that we're taking names.