NYT: At White House, a Day of Silence on Rove's Role in C.I.A. Leak

[Pirate Smile]

WASHINGTON, July 11 - Nearly two years after stating that any administration official found to have been involved in leaking the name of an undercover C.I.A. officer would be fired, and assuring that Karl Rove and other senior aides to President Bush had nothing to do with the disclosure, the White House on Monday refused to answer any questions about new evidence of Mr. Rove's role in the matter.

With the White House silent, Democrats rushed in, demanding that the administration provide a full account of any involvement by Mr. Rove, one of the president's closest advisers, turning up the political heat in the case and leaving some Republicans worried about the possible effects on Mr. Bush's second-term agenda.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, cited Mr. Bush's statements about firing anyone involved in the leak and said, "I trust they will follow through on this pledge."

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said Mr. Rove, given his stature and the principles involved in the case, could not hide behind legal advice not to comment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/politics/12rove.html?ei=5094&en=722d41bfc0b4802a&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121136658-flXmFsZ6yowYtWYF7nO82g



Edit to add - Past White House Briefings on C.I.A. Leak Case

"President Bush and Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, have discussed the disclosure of the identity of a covert C.I.A. operative at a variety of news conferences and briefings for reporters. Following are excerpts of transcripts of those sessions as recorded by the White House and Federal News Service. " - 7 PAGES of Quotes from Bush and Puffy McMoonface (Scottie).

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/12rove-quotes.html?pagewanted=1