Monday
Apr162007
White House Gaggle
Monday, April 16, 2007 at 3:00AM
By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle
April 16, 2007
By Victoria Jones
The President had his usual briefings. At 11 am he will speak on the Iraq war supplemental. At 3.25 pm, he will have policy time.
Muqtada al Sadr
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked about Muqtada al Sadr pulling his ministers out of the Iraqi government. She replied that Iraq is a parliamentary democracy. Coalitions can come and go. If the Sadrists leave the government, it does not mean that Maliki loses his majority.
Attorney General Albert Gonzales
Perino was asked whether the White House saw the Attorney General's testimony before it was released yesterday, whether it was appropriate for him to apologize and whether he still has the confidence of the President. Perino said the Attorney General has the confidence of the President. She did not see the testimony. It was appropriate how he described it and he is looking forward to getting the hearing over with.
It was pointed out that the Albuquerque Journal reported that Sen. Domenici made a personal appeal to the White House about US Attorney Iglesias. Perino was asked if the President recalls talking to Domenici. Perino said the President has said that he recalls the issue of voter fraud being brought up at a meeting with senators.
Asked why the President still has confidence in the Attorney General, Perino said the Attorney General has answered and been fully responsive to the Congress as they have had their inquiries regarding the eight US attorneys. US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President. He believes that the Attorney General has followed through on the requests of the Congress and the President's direction to be fully responsive.
The Department of Justice is doing a tremendous amount of good work in other areas protecting children from predators and keeping streets safe from gang crime, and most importantly making sure our laws are protecting citizens from any possible future terrorist attack.
It was stated that other than asserting the right to fire these US attorneys, the Attorney General did not give any reason why they were fired. Perino said the Attorney General will speak before members of Congress tomorrow morning.
War Czar
Perino was asked to comment on reports that candidates for the war czar position did not desire it for lack of a plan. Perino said no one was offered the job. A list of candidates has not been narrowed. The idea is one that is being considered. If there is more to announced, the White House will do so, when the information is available.
Emails
An update was requested on any search for outside computer experts. Perino said that an agreement had been reached late last week between the Senate Judiciary Committee and White House on cooperation in seeking outside experts.
Perino was asked if there is a problem with the preservation of official email. She said she believed there were back up tapes. In addition, she reminded reporters, that as with them, when there was a technical problem, it was not their fault or because they caused it.
White House Gaggle
April 16, 2007
By Victoria Jones
The President had his usual briefings. At 11 am he will speak on the Iraq war supplemental. At 3.25 pm, he will have policy time.
Muqtada al Sadr
Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked about Muqtada al Sadr pulling his ministers out of the Iraqi government. She replied that Iraq is a parliamentary democracy. Coalitions can come and go. If the Sadrists leave the government, it does not mean that Maliki loses his majority.
Attorney General Albert Gonzales
Perino was asked whether the White House saw the Attorney General's testimony before it was released yesterday, whether it was appropriate for him to apologize and whether he still has the confidence of the President. Perino said the Attorney General has the confidence of the President. She did not see the testimony. It was appropriate how he described it and he is looking forward to getting the hearing over with.
It was pointed out that the Albuquerque Journal reported that Sen. Domenici made a personal appeal to the White House about US Attorney Iglesias. Perino was asked if the President recalls talking to Domenici. Perino said the President has said that he recalls the issue of voter fraud being brought up at a meeting with senators.
Asked why the President still has confidence in the Attorney General, Perino said the Attorney General has answered and been fully responsive to the Congress as they have had their inquiries regarding the eight US attorneys. US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President. He believes that the Attorney General has followed through on the requests of the Congress and the President's direction to be fully responsive.
The Department of Justice is doing a tremendous amount of good work in other areas protecting children from predators and keeping streets safe from gang crime, and most importantly making sure our laws are protecting citizens from any possible future terrorist attack.
It was stated that other than asserting the right to fire these US attorneys, the Attorney General did not give any reason why they were fired. Perino said the Attorney General will speak before members of Congress tomorrow morning.
War Czar
Perino was asked to comment on reports that candidates for the war czar position did not desire it for lack of a plan. Perino said no one was offered the job. A list of candidates has not been narrowed. The idea is one that is being considered. If there is more to announced, the White House will do so, when the information is available.
Emails
An update was requested on any search for outside computer experts. Perino said that an agreement had been reached late last week between the Senate Judiciary Committee and White House on cooperation in seeking outside experts.
Perino was asked if there is a problem with the preservation of official email. She said she believed there were back up tapes. In addition, she reminded reporters, that as with them, when there was a technical problem, it was not their fault or because they caused it.
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