thinkprogress.org/2005/07/11/briefing-711
FULL TEXT: July 11 White House Press Briefing WHITE HOUSE REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING JULY 11, 2005 SPEAKER: SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY MCCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everyone. On July 11th, we remember the tragic loss of lives in Srebrenica 10 years ago. The mass murder of nearly 8,000 men and boys was Europes worst massacre of civilians since World War II and a grim reminder that there are evil people who will kill the innocent without conscience or mercy. This horrific event remains a source of pain for people in the Balkan reg ion and for all those who believe in freedom and the dignity of human li fe. I join all Americans in sending our deepest condolences and expressions o f sympathy on this solemn occasion. The United States supports the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the f amilies of those who suffered, as they commemorate this terrible chapter in history. We grieve for their loss and applaud the strength and courage of those wh o have returned to Srebrenica to rebuild their lives. We also remain committed to ensuring that those responsible for these cri mes face justice; I appreciate all the individuals who are advancing reconciliation and a s trong European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina. A modern, democratic Balkan region is an essential element in a Europe th at is unified, free and at peace. As we work to make the world more peaceful, we share a common faith in th e value of freedom, the sanctity of life and the triumph of good over ev il. May God bless the people of the Balkan region and the souls of the depart ed. QUESTION: Does the president stand by his pledge to fire anyone involved in a leak of the name of a CIA operative? I think your question is being ask ed related to some reports that are in reference to an ongoing criminal investigation. The criminal investigation that you reference is somethin g that continues at this point. And as Ive previously stated, while that investigation is ongoing, the W hite House is not going to comment on it. The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the invest igation. And as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, we mad e a decision that we werent going to comment on it while it is ongoing. QUESTION: I actually wasnt talking about any investigation. But in June of 2004, the president said that he would fire anybody who wa s involved in this leak to the press about information. MCCLELLAN: Yes, but this question is coming up in the context of this ong oing investigation, and thats why I said that our policy continues to b e that were not going to get into commenting on an ongoing criminal inv estigation from this podium. The prosecutors overseeing the investigation had expressed a preference t o us that one way to help the investigation is not to be commenting on i t from this podium. MCCLELLAN: And so thats why we are not going to get into commenting on i t while it is an ongoing investigation or questions related to it. QUESTION: Scott, if I could point out: Contradictory to that statement, o n September 29th of 2003, while the investigation was ongoing, you clear ly commented on it. You were the first one to have said that if anybody from the White House was involved, they would be fired. And then, on June 10th of 2004, at Sea Island Plantation, in the midst of this investigation, when the president made his comments that, yes, he would fire anybody from the White House who was involved, so why have yo u commented on this during the process of the investigation in the past, but now youve suddenly drawn a curtain around it under the statement o f, Were not going to comment on an ongoing investigation? No one wants to get to the bottom of it more tha n the president of the United States. And I think the way to be most helpful is to not get into commenting on i t while it is an ongoing investigation. And thats something that the pe ople overseeing the investigation have expressed a preference that we fo llow. And thats why were continuing to follow that approach and that policy. And, at some point, I will be glad to talk about it, but not until after the investigation is complete. QUESTION: So could I just ask: When did you change your mind to say that it was OK to comment during the course of an investigation before, but n ow its not? MCCLELLAN: Well, I think maybe you missed what I was saying in reference to Terrys question at the beginning. There came a point, when the inves tigation got under way, when those overseeing the investigation asked th at it would be or said that it would be their preference that we not g et into discussing it while it is ongoing. I think thats the way to be most helpful to help them advance the invest igation and get to the bottom of it. QUESTION: Scott, can I ask you this: Did Karl Rove commit a crime? MCCLELLAN: Again, David, this is a question relating to a ongoing investi gation, and you have my response related to the investigation. And I don t think you should read anything into it other than: Were going to con tinue not to comment on it while its ongoing. QUESTION: Do you stand by your statement from the fall of 2003, when you were asked specifically about Karl and Elliot Abrams and Scooter Libby, and you said, Ive gone to each of those gentlemen, and they have told m e they are not involved in this ? MCCLELLAN: And if you will recall, I said that, as part of helping the in vestigators move forward on the investigation, were not going to get in to commenting on it. That was something I stated back near that time as well. The notion that youre going to stan d before us, after having commented with that level of detail, and tell people watching this that somehow youve decided not to talk. MCCLELLAN: Im well aware, like you, of what was previously said. And I w ill be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate ti me is when the investigation QUESTION: (inaudible) when its appropriate and when its inappropriate? You stood at that podium and said that Karl Rove was not involved. And no w we find out that he spoke about Joseph Wilsons wife. So dont you owe the American public a fuller explanation. Because contrary to what you told the American people, he did indeed t alk about his wife, didnt he? MCCLELLAN: There will be a time to talk about this, but now is not the ti me to talk about it. QUESTION: Do you think people will accept that, what youre saying today? QUESTION: Youre in a bad spot here, Scott (LAUGHTER) because after the investigation began after the criminal investigatio n was under way you said, October 10th, 2003, I spoke with those indiv iduals, Rove, Abrams and Libby. As I pointed out, those individuals assu red me they were not involved in this, from that podium. Now that Rove has essentially been caught red-handed peddling this inform ation, all of a sudden you have respect for the sanctity of the criminal investigation. And it was after that period that the inves tigators had requested that we not get into commenting on an ongoing cri minal investigation. And we want to be helpful so that they can get to the bottom of this. Bec ause no one wants to get to the bottom of it more than the president of the United States. But until the investigation is complete, Im just not going to do that. QUESTION: So youre now saying that after you cleared Rove and the others from that podium, then the prosecutors asked you not to speak anymore a nd since then you havent. MCCLELLAN: Again, youre continuing to ask questions relating to an ongoi ng criminal investigation and Im just not going to respond to them. QUESTION: When did they ask you to stop commenting on it, Scott? QUESTION: Well, then the president commented on it nine months later. When did the president learn that Karl Rove had had a conversation with a news reporter about the involvement of Joseph Wilsons wife in the deci sion to send him to Africa? QUESTION: When did the president learn that Karl Rove had been MCCLELLAN: Ive responded to your questions. QUESTION: After the investigation is completed, will you then be consiste nt with your word and the presidents word that anybody who was involved will be let go? MCCL...
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