White House goes mum on CIA video case

[ProSense]

White House mum on destroyed CIA tapes

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House lawyers have advised President Bush's spokeswoman not to answer specific questions about why the CIA destroyed tapes of terror suspects under interrogation, as Congress seeks answers about the matter.

The Justice Department and the CIA's internal watchdog are conducting a joint inquiry into the spy agency's destruction of videotaped interrogations of two suspected terrorists, to determine whether a full investigation is warranted. With that review ongoing, the White House counsel's office has instructed Bush's press secretary, Dana Perino, not to get into details with reporters.

"I think that that's appropriate, and I'll adhere to it," Perino said Monday. She said her previous statement remains accurate — that Bush has no recollection of hearing about the tapes' existence or their destruction before being briefed about it last Thursday.

The White House typically stops commenting — beyond broad talking points — once an inquiry into a controversial matter is underway. When a reporter asked about another White House "wall of silence," Perino told the media in her morning briefing: "I can see where that cynicism that usually drifts from this room could come up in this regard. What I can tell you is I try my best to get you as much information as I can."

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White House goes mum on CIA video case

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House said Monday it would not answer questions about the CIA's destroying interrogation tapes of terrorism suspects, citing ongoing investigations into what some have called a cover-up.

Spokesman Dana Perino said that US President George W. Bush's official lawyer had requested a no-comment policy while the US Justice Department and Central Intelligence Agency looked into the simmering controversy.

"Until that process works itself out, I'm going to adhere to their request," she told reporters. "I think that that's appropriate, and I'll adhere to it."

When a reporter noted that the White House has similarly stonewalled questions about other potentially embarrassing issues, and suggested that such a policy was politically expedient, Perino bristled.

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[Sugar Smack]

1. Perino bristled.

That's pretty telling, I think.

[DemGa]

2. They'll stall for a while; then call it "old news"

Investigate these people!!!

[ProSense]

3. Kick! n/t

[ladjf]

4. "Goes mum ... ". That implies that prior to going "mum" they

were something other than "mum".

[AuntPatsy]

5. Kicking...