No Word From Bush On Forms in Leak Probe

[Oilwellian]

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan. 5 -- White House press secretary Scott McClellan declined to say Monday whether President Bush thinks his aides should sign forms that would release reporters from any pledges of confidentiality regarding the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.

A senior administration official said investigators have begun asking several Bush aides to sign the FBI forms after the reorganization of the three-month-old probe, to be overseen by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald of Chicago instead of by officials at Justice Department headquarters.

The forms could put pressure on White House officials as well as journalists, who would be told that the source wants reporters to answer the FBI's questions rather than assert any journalistic privilege. Time magazine reported that Karl Rove, Bush's senior adviser, was among the recipients of the forms.

McClellan said Bush has directed his aides to "cooperate fully in this investigation." Citing an ongoing investigation, however, he would not say whether the president thinks that extends to signing the forms.

(More here.)

[oasis]

1. They can't hide this like they did Halliburton. This involves treason.

[Gore1FL]

2. So did the 2000 coup de tat

but that was hidden in plain sight.

[Serenity-NOW]

3. This wins no joy from voters who can read

Any voter that reads a newspaper is automatically smarter than the shrub, we know he doesn't bother with that; instead he goes for a workout every day. I dunno but I'll go with my gut- a prez that works the muscle between his ears sounds like a good idea. A prez that relies on his aides to interpret the news while he pumps iron is a lost cause.

Poor freepers on ... what drug is that?