Bush Won't Comment on Rove Role in Leak
From The Associated Press, 7/13/05:
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2005/07/13/ap/headlines/d8bal5581.txt
By PETE YOST
WASHINGTON -
President Bush said Wednesday he will withhold judgment about top aide
Karl Rove's involvement in leaking the identity of a CIA operative
until a federal criminal investigation is complete.
The lack of an endorsement surprised some Bush advisers who expected
the president to speak up.
"This is a serious investigation," Bush said at the end of a meeting
with his Cabinet, with Rove sitting just behind him.
"I will be more than happy to comment on this matter once this
investigation is complete.
"I also will not prejudge the investigation based on media reports,"
he said, when asked whether Rove acted improperly in discussing CIA
officer Valerie Plame with a reporter.
Rove talked about Plame _ without using her name _ in a July 11, 2003,
conversation with Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper.
Cooper wrote an article that identified her.
Bush's statement was a surprise for some White House advisers and
senior Republicans who had expected the president to deliver a vote of
confidence for Rove, his deputy chief of staff.
Two Bush advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they did
not want to pre-empt the president, said shortly before his remarks
that the president intended to signal his support of Rove _ without
prejudging the merits of the case _ during that picture-taking
session.
Indeed, they said, he was prepared to do so a day earlier but the
question was not posed in the question-and-answer session Tuesday.
However, other senior aides to the president said he had been prepared
to show his confidence in Rove but, they said, the question from
reporters focused on the investigation.
Yet, Bush has never appeared constrained to limit his answers strictly
to questions asked.
The aides said Bush does have full confidence in Rove.
Bush said last year he would fire anyone found to have leaked Plame's
identity.
Bush refused to directly answer questions about whether he had spoken
to Rove about his discussion with Cooper.
"I have instructed every member of my staff to fully cooperate in this
investigation," Bush said.
Rove sat stoically behind Bush during the questions about his
involvement.
Earlier, first lady Laura Bush, talking to reporters while traveling
in Africa, called Rove "a very good friend" but said she did not want
to talk about the investigation.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Bush didn't express
his confidence in Rove because he wasn't directly asked if he supports
him.
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