Here’s today gaggle exchange on <$NoAd$>the 5th Amendment question …
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.
Many of those reporters in that room think Scott McClellan is a pretty decent guy — certainly in comparison to his predecessor; reasonably candid in off-the-record situations, and so forth. And this was a tough question to answer. But I think we can infer pretty clearly that his boss is not willing to say that his aides shouldn’t be taking the fifth when Patrick Fitzgerald’s investigators come calling. And that puts his call for cooperation in a certain context.
A number of other Plame related questions were discussed today. We’ll bring you those a little later this evening.
