Sara M. Taylor, former deputy assistant to the president and White House director of political affairs, testified about the dismissal of several U.S. attorneys and knowledge of the decisions by White House officials. She refused to answer several questions based on a directive by White House counsel Fred Fielding not to divulge information considered to be protected by executive privilege. Ms. Taylor did answer questions that she and her counsel thought appropriate and not in violation of the president’s directive to preserve executive privilege.