McCLELLAN: Again, John, I appreciate the question. I know you want to get to the bottom of this. No one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States. And I think the way to be most helpful is to not get into commenting on it while it is an ongoing investigation. That's something that the people overseeing the investigation have expressed a preference that we follow. And that's why we're continuing to follow that approach and that policy. Now, I remember very well what was previously said. And at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete.
Q So could I just ask, when did you change your mind to say that it was okay to comment during the course of an investigation before, but now it's not?
McCLELLAN: Well, I think maybe you missed what I was saying in reference to Terry's question at the beginning. There came a point when the investigation got underway when those overseeing the investigation asked that it would be their — or said that it would be their preference that we not get into discussing it while it is ongoing. I think that's the way to be most helpful to help them advance the investigation and get to the bottom of it.
Q Scott, can I ask you this; did Karl Rove commit a crime?
McCLELLAN: Again, David, this is a question relating to an ongoing investigation, and you have my response related to the investigation. And I don't think you should read anything into it other than we're going to continue not to comment on it while it's ongoing.
Q Do you stand by your statement from the fall of 2003 when you were asked specifically about Karl and Elliott Abrams and Scooter Libby, and you said, "I've gone to each of those gentlemen, and they have told me they are not involved in this" — do you stand by that statement?
McCLELLAN: And if you will recall, I said that as part of helping the investigators move forward on the investigation we're not going to get into commenting on it. That was something I stated back near that time, as well.
Q Scott, I mean, just — I mean, this is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us after having commented with that level of detail and tell people watching this that somehow you decided not to talk. You've got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium, or not?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Bennett
Great job Mark. Thanks for posting this transcript. We never get this level of detail from standard news sources, and I appreciate the opportunity to read more than just a reader digest version of this event.
Salut!
2 - Aaman
wtg - good piece
3 - Silas Kain
Great job, Mark.
Am I making too much of this? Nope. Administration officials were adamant that whoever leaked the information had to be dealt with. The President himself said this in 2003. The last thing I want to see is another impeachment trial in this country; however, Mr. Rove has placed this White House in a very difficult position and must be dealt with. Not only has the White House credibility taken a nosedive in America, but news outlets around the world are using this latest news as another example of the failures of the Bush Administration.Now, in the interest of national security and a return to some semblance of trust with this White House Karl Rove must resign forthwith.
And, finally, I'll be revisiting the annals of history on this one. For every conservative scumbag who demonized Bill Clinton and was determined to have him removed from office I would expect nothing less than their own demand that Karl Rove step down. Those political leaders who fail to do so will be "outed". You can take that to the bank, Mr. Frist.
4 - Pilgrim
you spoke well, with the exception of point number two
if guilty, the punishment should be according to the law, anything less taints all it touches with the brush of hypocrisy and special priveledge for the powerful
5 - Bryan McKay
President Bush should issue a conditional pardon of Mr. Rove under the conditions that he will return to private life, take no further role in the political arena whatsoever, and issue a statement of apology to the members of this Administration, Joe Wilson and his wife and to the people of America.
Does Judith Miller get a pardon too?
David: Wonderful piece. It's really great to see a (mostly) complete transcript like this. You've been such an excellent contribution to the site.
6 - Silas Kain
Not only does Judith Miller get a pardon but she deserves a Pulitzer.
A conditional pardon for Karl Rove is a far worse punishment than a few months in a federal detention facility. He should be removed from politics all together. That kind of restriction would be a far worse punishment for him to endure. Either that, or make him Martha Stewart's first Intern!!!! I'd like to see him on all fours groveling at Martha's feet. This misogynist chauvinist bigoted pig should squeal like the porcine trash he is.
7 - Pilgrim
the law in question here is
Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982 which states that
"Whoever, having or having had authorized access to classified information that identifies a covert agent, intentionally discloses any information identifying such covert agent to any individual not authorized to receive classified information, knowing that the information disclosed so identifies such covert agent and that the United States is taking affirmative measures to conceal such covert agent's intelligence relationship to the United States, shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both."
8 - Martian Anthropologist
Classic Bush administration hypocritical bullshit. Great post.
9 - David R. Mark
Thanks to all for the compliments.
10 - Silas Kain
Pilgrim, I totally understand that many will call for a severe punishment should Rove be found guilty. Right now all we have is an appearance of impropriety. It seems that there is sufficient evidence but that can only be determined by a Grand Jury. All that being said, Rove must resign now. He has placed many in the Bush Administration in a very uncomfortable position and morally the proper thing to do is walk away if he wants to clear his name.
11 - Pilgrim
i called for nothing, silas. i quoted the law. no apologist for hypocrisy or those that violate their oath and morals.
12 - Patricia Murphy
Rove should be jailed for treason and perjury!!!
13 - Paul J. Burns
Thanx for posting the transcript? I think that the administration is resisting too hard for the sake of Karl Rove. I think that they are protecting a bigger Bush, uh I mean a bigger fish.
Probably because Rove knows where all of the bodies are buried.
14 - Vaughn D. Taylor
I posted this on my site on July 1 at about 11:31 PM -- a minute after it was posted in Editor and Publisher. (http://www.liberalrevolt.com/2005/07/04/rove-traitor) It's really amazing to me that these stories seem to be released at times when they are least likely to reach the MSM. Who's controlling these things? It was Friday before a holiday weekend (I don't know why I was still working). . Thank God for the blogosphere -- we may never find out about stuff like this. Imagine all of the things we've lost ...
15 - Vaughn D. Taylor
BTW - Crooks and Liars has a link to the meaty part of the video - http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Scotty_Rove.wmv
16 - Dave Nalle
>>shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.<<
So, an appropriate punishment would be $1 and a pat on the back?
Dave
17 - Silas Kain
Vaughn Taylor says: "Thank God for the blogosphere -- we may never find out about stuff like this. Imagine all of the things we've lost ..."
This is where it's at, Vaughn. The main stream media knows it. The political parties are terrified of it. And the special interest groups from the NEA to the AMA to the Drug, Petroleum and Gun Lobbies are perplexed as to the rising tide. We're the little volcano simmering under the ocean's floor and soon there will be enough pressure for us to break through. As the tidal wave of change is released, the first target shall be Washington, DC.
18 - Sasha
Thank you for publishing the text of the press briefing.
It disturbs me that political commentary is that Rove did nothing "wrong." People familiar with Rove tactics know that he deliberately uses subterfuge - I doubt that if he knew that Plame was possibly responsible for her husband's trip, he did not know her position. And how difficult is it really to unearth her name once you know to whom she is married and where she works?
If Bush does nothing, it will confirm that he has absolutely no regard for the law, the American people, or the people who work for the government to protect our Country.
As far as Rove being banned from government and politics - it would be a literal death knell for this "doctor of political strategy."
19 - Nancy
Dave Mark, terrific reporting!
Ref: 1) the press: it's about goddamned time they started doing their jobs. They should be baring their fangs like this with EVERY politician, ALL the time - & the higher the pol, the harder the bite. 2) BushCo: I knew it would be only a matter of time before they got caught with their pants down, red-handed (to mix metaphors), so blatantly that even they can't deny or spin it enough to make it go away. Maybe this will wake up some on the right who have been blindly defending Smirk & Co. no matter what BushCo has done to destroy this country & our rights; it is acknowledged that, like their Fearless Leader, most will be incapable of admitting they were wrong & grossly misjudged the characters of the people they voted for & trusted to lead them. 3) On the contrary, I hope Smirk DOES continue to stand by his man & the admin continues to try to spin & ride out the storm. The 06 elections are coming up; lessee: we've got DeLay, & that guy w/the houseboat, & now Rove, & the Downing St. memo ... yeah, we should be able to clean out a lot of corrupt GOP scumbags. The Dems have been handed several gifts on a golden platter. If they can't do anything with this plethora of scandal, they'd better fold up for good as being too stupid to live. Pity none of this came up before the presidential elections. But I am optimistic: we may have a presidential impeachment yet. I shall continue to hope. Meanwhile, I really, really hope this means the media have finally gotten their groove (& thirst for blood) back again. It's overdue & very needed.
20 - Vaughn D. Taylor
"This is where it's at, Vaughn. The main stream media knows it. The political parties are terrified of it."
We have the opportunity to be honest, and cut through all of the bureaucratic nonsense that the MSM has to deal with before they can even think about running a story. Unless the MSM finds a way to get stories on the TV quicker, they may soon become irrelevant. The MSM is using the blogosphere as a testing ground for their stories -- they can determine if the story has legs, and avoid getting "Rathered".
http://www.liberalrevolt.com/
21 - Daniel E. Maeso
ARE WE ALL BLIND? THE REPORTERS WHO ALLEGEDLY TALKED TO KARL ROVE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE THREATS OF JAILING AND ONE OF THEM IS PRESENTLY IN JAIL. WHAT ABOUT ROBERT NOVAK WHO ACTUALLY IDENTIFIED THE WILSON'S WIFE BY NAME? IS IT BECAUSE HE IS A CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST THAT HE SEEMS TO BE UNSCATHED? I BET HE GOT THE INFORMATION FROM ROVE ALSO. AGAIN, MY QUESTION IS: WHAT ABOUT NOVAK?
22 - David R. Mark
Daniel, we have to assume that Novak cooperated with the prosecution.
But that leads to a follow-up: If Novak did cooperate and testify, seemingly giving up his sources, why the pursuit of Cooper and Miller.
The only way around this is if Novak lied in his column, and didn't actually talk to administration sources, but instead pick up on the information from talking to fellow reporters like Cooper and Miller, who themselves did not print the information.
Is that possible?
23 - Silas Kain
The smarmy, unscrupulous Robert Novak won't get into any kind of trouble. He is the darling of the Republican right. He's been their lapdog for as long as he's been in news. He was like a pit bull on Clinton for a blow job. When it comes to something that borders on treason, he's a wimp.
24 - David R. Mark
Silas, that may be true, but I think more likely he was advised by very well-paid GOP advisors/lawyers to wade his way through this mess unscathed.
But logically, I think it has to be that Novak lied in his column. Otherwise, the investigation wouldn't need to proceed to Cooper and Miller.
We can't assume that Novak was uncooperative with the investigation.
25 - Fred Lorrain
Great Post! thanks for the transcript.
I also disagree with the idea that W should pardon Rove, it seems like these guys have been acting like they're above the law since they got in. Time for the Dems to take 'em to the mat on this one. The Republicans like to portray themselves as the only party to trust with our national security, how was our national security served by the outing a covert "front line soldier" in the war on terror, who's job was to investigate the proliferation of WMD's?
And Novak's "cooperation" with the prosecutor shouldn't keep him out of the fire either, He's the hack that spilled it first!
Let the unravelling begin....