Read between the lines: McClellan protecting his testimony to Grand Jury

[DemsUnited]

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan (Tuesday, 7/12/05)
James S. Brady Briefing Room

<snip>
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, if I were to get into discussing this, I would be getting into discussing an investigation that continues and could be prejudging the outcome of the investigation. I'm not going to do that from this podium. You do point out some statements that were made. I remember well the comments that were made. After that point, I also remember going and testifying in this investigation. I remember well individuals who are involved overseeing this investigation expressing their preference personally to me that we not get into discussing what is an ongoing investigation. I think that's the way to be most helpful as they move forward, and that's why I'm in the position that I am. I'm not going to get into jumping on every news report as the investigation continues and trying to comment on them, because I don't think that's helpful.
<snip>

Let's just read between the lines, shall we?

1. McClellan talked to Rove, perhaps several times. Rove said he had “nothing to do with it" when asked about his role in exposing Valerie Plame. McClellan dutifully repeated Rove’s assertions to White House Press Corps on several, well-documented occasions.

2. "After that point" McClellan gets called in to the Grand Jury, most likely about the conversations he had with Rove. He probably goes in with a lawyer.

3. After he testifies, the Grand Jury expresses their preference “personally to me" (McClellan) to not discuss the ongoing investigation. They don't tell him he CAN'T talk, just that they'd prefer he didn't.

4. On advice of his lawyer, McClellan pretty much DOESN'T discuss the Plame scandal. He gets away with it for two years.

5. Now that Plame is headline news again, McClellan (still under advise from his lawyer) "is in the position he's in" and can't "talk from the podium."

6. By saying he won’t talk “from the podium”, he may be signalling that he's open to talking off the record to a few journalists. But then again, maybe not.

And the big question is: What DID McClellan tell the Grand Jury?

[Vickers]

1. They're really throwing that fatboy to the wolves

And methinks he's about to get chewed up!

[Hamlette]

2. the story will be Rove never denied it

he just said "I didn't know her name, I never named her." That non denial denial allowed people to think he was not the source.

[drm604]

3. Anyone have a link to the briefing?

Can we watch it live right now?