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Pastimes : Rarely is the question asked: "is our children learning" -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Sladek who wrote (1737)	1/6/2004 10:34:07 PM
From: John Sladek	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2171

06Jan04-Mike Allen-No Word From Bush On Forms in Leak Probe FBI Tactic Encourages Reporters to Talk By Mike Allen Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, January 6, 2004; Page A04 ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE, Jan. 5 -- White House press secretary Scott McClellan declined to say Monday whether President Bush thinks his aides should sign forms that would release reporters from any pledges of confidentiality regarding the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. A senior administration official said investigators have begun asking several Bush aides to sign the FBI forms after the reorganization of the three-month-old probe, to be overseen by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald of Chicago instead of by officials at Justice Department headquarters. The forms could put pressure on White House officials as well as journalists, who would be told that the source wants reporters to answer the FBI's questions rather than assert any journalistic privilege. Time magazine reported that Karl Rove, Bush's senior adviser, was among the recipients of the forms. McClellan said Bush has directed his aides to "cooperate fully in this investigation." Citing an ongoing investigation, however, he would not say whether the president thinks that extends to signing the forms. "That's asking a specific question about matters that should be directed to the career officials at the Department of Justice," McClellan said. "The president has always said that leaking classified information is a serious matter, and certainly no one wants to get to the bottom of this more than he does." The investigation is aimed at pinning down who in the government revealed Plame's identity, which was printed by columnist Robert D. Novak on July 14. The formal investigation began Sept. 30, and Bush has expressed doubt that the leaker will be found, citing the number of people who could fit Novak's description of his source: a "senior administration official." One government official familiar with such investigations called the forms a "quintessential cover-your-rear-end" move by investigators. "It provides political cover, because you can say you tried everything, and this is a very politically charged environment," the official said. "There's no other value to it." Staff writer Susan Schmidt in Washington contributed to this report. washingtonpost.com