Immunity Deal Finalized for Former DOJ Official

ABC News’ Jason Ryan Reports:  A federal judge has finalized an immunity deal for a former Justice Department official at the center of the ongoing fired U.S. attorneys controversy.

Judge Thomas Hogan approved the deal for former Justice Department White House liaison Monica Goodling Friday morning. Numerous e-mails released in the past three months have revealed that Goodling was closely involved in the coordination of firing eight attorneys.

In the order Judge Hogan wrote, "Monica Goodling may not refuse to testify, and may not refuse to provide other information, when compelled to do so at proceedings… on the basis of her constitutional privilege against self incrimination."

Previously, Goodling’s attorney had notified Congressional committees looking into the firings that she planned to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights and decline to testify about the matter.

The one page order concludes by noting, "No testimony or other information compelled under this order… may be used against Monica Goodling in any criminal proceeding, except prosecutions for perjury, giving a false statement, or otherwise failing to comply with this order."

Besides the ongoing congressional investigation, Goodling is also the subject of an internal Justice Department investigation for her role in the U.S. attorney dismissals. The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), an internal watchdog on Department lawyers, and the Inspector General are conducting a joint investigation into allegations that Goodling was involved in the hiring of career prosecutors.  Goodling allegedly asked assistant U.S. attorneys about their political affiliation and opinions about political issues, a possible violation of federal law and DOJ policy.

Thursday, during his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales briefly commented on Goodling’s role and the internal investigation, "Let me just say that she was involved to political appointees and with respect to career appointees, there has been some fairly serious allegations made with respect to her role in that.  And has already been made public because of the seriousness of those allegations, that matter has been referred for an investigation."

Goodling is expected to testify before the House Judiciary Committee before the end of the month.