1.   And no federal judge has ever intervened to protect a witness who has sought to assert the privilege in a Congressional hearing.

2.   Because there is no law on the protective function privilege, the issue of who must assert the privilege is not settled ...

3.   But because Clinton did not sign the letter, White House aides said after the vote that the president had not yet formally asserted the privilege.

4.   For example, the White House asserted unfounded privileges that were later rejected in court.

5.   Instead, Robert Rubin, the secretary of the Department of the Treasury, has formally asserted the privilege.

6.   Moments earlier, the defense insisted that Fuhrman assert his privilege against self-incrimination on the stand, not in absentia.

7.   Only two courts of appeals have addressed the issue of whether a governmental attorney-client privilege can be asserted in response to a Federal grand jury subpoena.

8.   The paper refuses, asserting its privilege under the shield law that protects the confidentiality of sources.

9.   The Office of President contends that it can assert such privileges against a Federal grand jury to the same extent as a corporation.

10.   Thereafter, I understand that the Presidential communications privilege was asserted as to certain questions asked of Sidney Blumenthal and Nancy Hernreich.