Monday, October 24, 2005

The One Word Promise from the President

[This post originally appeared on Watching Washington on July 13, 2005]

There's been some confusion as to whether President Bush himself ever promised to fire anyone who leaked Valerie Plame's identity to the media. The President has in fact made that promise. It came during an exchange with reporters at a news conference following the G-8 Summit in Sea Island, Georgia last year:


Q. Given recent developments in the C.I.A. leak case, particularly Vice President Cheney's discussions with the investigators, do you still stand by what you said several months ago, suggestion that it might difficult to identify anybody who leaked the agent's name? And ...

President Bush: That's up …

Q. And do you stand by your pledge to fire anyone found to have done so? And …

President Bush: Yes....

--President Bush,
June 10, 2004

You can find the complete, official transcript containing the exchange at the White House website. (NYT & The White House) [Photo Credit: President Bush at June 10, 2004 news conference, White House photo]

No comments: