Questions about the Plame investigation from today’s <$NoAd$>gaggle …
QUESTION: Can you also confirm that Air Force One documents — been handed over to a federal grand jury?
McClellan: Well, I would just say that we are, at the direction of the President, cooperating fully with those who are leading the investigation. We are complying with every request, and we will continue to comply fully with the requests from those who are leading this investigation. No one wants to the bottom of it more than the President of the United States.
QUESTION: So they were handed over?
McClellan: Well, we did send — the White House Counsel’s Office did send a letter out to White House staff, urging everybody to comply fully with the request from the investigators, and that’s exactly what we are doing. But, yes, at this point we’re still in the process of complying fully with those requests. We have provided the Department of Justice investigators with much of the information and we’re continuing to provide them with additional information and comply fully with the request for information.
QUESTION: — these latest subpoenas that were reported today?
McClellan: I think that’s the context in which Heidi was asking her question.
QUESTION: But you’re answering more broadly. I’m looking for confirmation you got the subpoenas and that you responded to them.
McClellan: Yes, our Counsel’s Office immediately sent a letter to White House staff, directing everyone to cooperate fully and comply with the request from those leading the investigation.
QUESTION: What was the date of that letter?
McClellan: I can double-check the specific date. It was — you know, part of our complying fully with the request of the Department of Justice investigators was not making this document public, as well.
QUESTION: But this was not the broad directive from —
McClellan: It was the latter part of January. I didn’t check the exact, specific date, but it was the latter part of January.
QUESTION: Was it in response to this set of subpoenas we’re hearing about today?
McClellan: Was what in response —
QUESTION: The White House Counsel’s directive.
McClellan: Yes. Yes.
QUESTION: Okay. Thank you.
McClellan: We immediately sent a letter out to White House staff, urging everyone to comply fully with the request.
QUESTION: Can you say how many subpoenas were received, Scott?
McClellan: Mark, I think you ought to direct those specific questions to those who are leading the investigation. Again, as I said, we’re complying fully with their request, and that includes not making that letter that we sent to White House staff public.
QUESTION: Scott, does either the President or Secretary Card have a policy on whether it’s acceptable for White House aides to take the Amendment when they’re asked questions in this case?
McClellan: Well, keep in mind that by law, grand jury investigations are closed, and prosecutors and grand jurors cannot reveal anything about the proceedings. The President has made it very clear he wants everybody inside government and outside government to provide those who are leading the investigation with information that might help them get to the bottom of this. He’s been very clear about this, but let me make clear that — well, go ahead, Mike.
QUESTION: Go ahead.
McClellan: No, no. You were going to ask a question; go ahead.
QUESTION: Are you willing to say that White House aides who ask questions in this investigation should not take the 5th Amendment?
McClellan: Our policy, at the direction of the President, is that everybody should cooperate fully with those who are leading the investigation. That’s our policy. I’m not going to speculate about grand jury proceedings. I have no knowledge of anyone invoking their legal right against self-incrimination. I checked with White House Counsel’s Office, and they have no knowledge of anyone invoking their legal right against self-incrimination.
Jeff, go ahead.
QUESTION: Scott, it was a little difficult to hear the exchange that was going on, I want to make sure I understand what you’ve acknowledged responding to, subpoena-wise. You have responded to the subpoena for telephone records from Air Force One?
McClellan: Yes, we are complying fully with the request from the Department of Justice. I think you can ask them about the specific questions and issues — the investigators, that is — and, like I said, we prefer that you direct those questions to them, in our belief that that is helping them move the investigation forward.
QUESTION: Okay. One more thing on the jobs issue. You said the President —
McClellan: We are complying fully with that request, and we are continuing to comply with certain matters that have been requested. We’re working very closely with the investigators on that.
