House Democrats renewed their effort to force former White House aide Karl Rove to testify in a probe into Justice Department controversies, presenting a challenge to President Barack Obama, who will have to decide whether to defend his predecessor’s legal arguments.

Michigan Rep. John Conyers, Democratic chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, on Monday issued a subpoena to Mr. Rove, seeking his appearance at a deposition Feb. 2. Mr. Conyers wants the former aide to President George W. Bush to answer questions on the Justice Department’s firings of U.S. attorneys in 2006, among other matters.

For more than a year, the Bush administration blocked congressional demands for testimony from Mr. Rove and other Bush aides. The White House’s assertion of executive privilege prompted the aides to refuse even to show up for a hearing. A judge last year, in a limited ruling, said the privilege didn’t protect the aides from having to appear, even if they refused to answer questions.

“Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it,” Mr. Conyers said. “After two years of stonewalling, it’s time for him to talk.”

Will Obama let this proceed?

For a while but the President knows: What goes around, comes around. After Obama leaves office, it might be his own staff that are subpoenaed by a Congressional committee.

President’s jealously guard their “executive privilege” and Obama would be smart to have Nancy Pelosi smack Conyers down.

And, no frog-march for Rove.

Stay tuned……