[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) will not try to block Congress's decision to grant immunity to former DOJ official Monica Goodling [JURIST news archive] to testify about the firing of eight US Attorneys [JURIST news archive], according to Monday reports. In a letter [text] to House Judiciary Committee [official website] Chairman John Conyers, Inspector General Glenn Fine and counsel to the Office of Professional Responsibility H. Marshall Jarrett [official profiles] said that while they would prefer that Goodling not receive immunity, they will not object to the panel's decision. Both the Inspector General and the Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating whether Goodling, who is the former special counsel to US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, violated federal law by considering the political affiliations of US Attorneys in making firing decisions. AP has more.

Goodling told the committee in March that she would not speak to the committee about her role in the firings [JURIST report], and stated through her lawyer, John Dowd, that she would seek protection under her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if the committee issued her a subpoena. She resigned [JURIST report] from her position at the Justice Department last month. The House Judiciary Committee voted to give Goodling immunity [JURIST report] in exchange for her testimony in late April.