Our Leaders' Version of Honesty in LeadershipThe Justice Department's Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales' senior counsel and liaison to the White House

The Justice Department's Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales' senior counsel and liaison to the White House, will invoke her Fifth Amendment privilege to refuse to answer questions put to her by the U.S. Senate.

"The potential for legal jeopardy for Ms. Goodling from even her most truthful and accurate testimony under these circumstances is very real," Goodling's lawyer, John Dowd, tells the Associated Press. What's the worst thing that could happen if Goodling were just to go in and tell the truth? "One need look no further than the recent circumstances and proceedings involving Lewis Libby," Dowd said.

Of course, Libby found himself in trouble not for telling the truth but for lying -- repeatedly and under oath -- about what he knew and what he said about Valerie Plame. If the White House is right that no crimes were committed in the prosecutor purge -- and if Goodling would really tell the truth while testifying -- then what possible reason could she have for refusing to do so?

Link.

Yes, if she were to be honest and there's no claims of illegality, why the 5th? And if it's being used inappropriately, she's setting herself up for a contempt charge.

Very bizarre -- of course, God knows the current administration is, so to speak, chock full of nuts.