October 08, 2003
Quotes Of The Moment Nos. 0024 & 0025
#0024: "Asking questions or perspectives about ongoing and/or future operations or investigations can result in restricted access on Gitmo, removal from the installation, and/or revocation of DoD press credentials," because "we have an ongoing operation. ... To discuss details about ongoing investigations may prejudice the outcome."
#0025a: Third, as in the Wen Ho Lee case, the government has chosen to prosecute Yee first through the nation's news media, primarily through leaks. As with Dr. Lee, government sources leaked the story to a newspaper -- this time, the extremely conservative and administration-friendly Washington Times.
#0025b: At the briefing, press secretary Scott McClellan ruled out senior political aide Karl Rove, vice-presidential chief of staff Lewis Libby, and National Security Council senior director Elliott Abrams as being involved in the [Valerie Plame] leak.
The comments by Bush and McClellan prompted some legal experts to question the independence of the investigation as well as the propriety of unilaterally attempting to clear top aides before the Justice Department has seen and heard all the evidence.
Mary Cheh, a Georgetown University law professor, called such statements "quite irregular" and said they could have a chilling effect on the investigation. "It will take someone of considerable fortitude [in the Justice Department] to look past such statements" and investigate any of the three men, she said.
Posted by Eddie Tews at October 8, 2003 11:39 AM
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