McClellan: "I Have Accepted"

By: Christine Delargy
Topics: In The News

Christine Delargy is a CBS News researcher based in Washington, D.C.

(AP)

CBS News confirmed today that President Bush's former spokesman Scott McClellan will accept an invitation to testify on Capitol Hill next week about the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.

McClellan tells CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante, "I have accepted. I am happy to share what I know."

House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers, D-Mich, asked McClellan to testify after he claimed in his new book: "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception" that he was mislead about Scooter Libby's role in the leak by Vice President Dick Cheney and others in the Bush Administration.

McClellan's book has caused quite the stir inside the Beltway and in the media. McClellan spoke with Katie at the beginning of his book release frenzy about his time in the White House Press office - and what he knew during "Plame-gate." You can watch their interview by clicking here.

Conyers asked McClellan to testify next Friday, June 20.

Of course, a few more questions remain. Will President Bush – if he is able to – exert executive privilege to stop his former spokesman's testimony? Will McClellan say anything he hasn't already gone over in his book? We'll be on top of the story – so check back to stay up on the latest.

Christine Delargy
Christine Delargy is a producer for CBSNews.com.
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by trbundro1277 June 10, 2008 5:52 PM EDT: Anything that leads to a Bush/Cheney impeachment would be great for our country, and show the rest of the world we do not tolerate our leaders breaking our laws, but then again, we don''t inforce our immigratin laws either!; Reply to this comment


by seah5 June 10, 2008 4:18 PM EDT: This guy should be the first to be prosecuted, with no plea bargains.
for neglegance of duty, aide and abetting, failure to report.

"IF" any of it is true and he failed to report it. He is guilty.

"IF" any of it is true and he failed to report it, wrote a book just to make money. He is guilty.

People like this give the impression, they will say and do anything to make a buck and or a name for themselves.

If it happened and he was part of it he is guilty.; Reply to this comment


by thy1138 June 10, 2008 2:42 PM EDT: National Archives published an article of "White House Press Secretaries" and in it the claim was Cabinet Member George B. Cortelyou (3 cabinet post would have been 4 today, last Postmaster General under President T. Roosevelt) was the first when he invited the press in to talk about President McKinley''s condition, whom he stood next to, after what was then the attempted assassination of the President. He died eight days later, VP Theodore Roosevelt, hiking Mt. Marcy in the Adirondacks, from Tahawas Lodge in NY, was driven down on buckboard relay through the night to North Creek, NY where he boarded a special train for Buffalo, NY after McKinley passed on to be inaugurated. Other Press Secretaries were listed but not the first woman to hold the job Dee Dee Myers, who left to get married a few years(?) before the article was published. Historians have overlooked G.B. Cortelyou, who besides being Chairman of the Republican Party, and an early CEO of ConEd in NY, taught shorthand and was descended from the French surveyor of Brooklyn, Jacques Cortelyou, for the early Dutch in New Amsterdam. They''re important today.; Reply to this comment


by killtheliars June 10, 2008 12:41 PM EDT: HAHAHAHAHA. I really hope the lot of them end up being prosecuted for treason. Bush and Cheney are both guilty of high crimes for outing a covert agent, it is as simple as that. As long as McClellan can show that they were both actively involved in leaking her identity they should go to prison or suffer the punishment that is on the books for treason (we all know what that is).
If the two of them were to recieve the "ultimate" punishment i would have a party to celebrate and I can tell you right now ALOT of people would be joining me to celebrate; Reply to this comment


by mudrose-2009 June 10, 2008 12:29 PM EDT: Leave it to the Dimnowits. Another three-ring circus on the same ole, same ole c/rap about a blonde hag who was outed by Armitage and the azzholes on the Hlll just can''t get enough of their pony show of Bush Bashing. Never mind that they are a 13% rating in the eyes of the American public and that the Surge Has Succeeded. They are the party of perpetual regurgitation of issues that are no longer relevant to the American people other than the CBS propaganda mill.; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer June 10, 2008 11:54 AM EDT: Kucinich may be a flake, but he''s right, and I respect his courage. Kudos to him!; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer June 10, 2008 11:51 AM EDT: We all know that Bush/Cheney/Rove were behind the Plame leak, and we all know it was done to warn other potential policy deviants of the consequences. McClellan will repeat what we and the entire congress already know.

Will anything be done about it? Of course not! Same old, same old!; Reply to this comment


by ajaxtheleast June 10, 2008 11:41 AM EDT: Okay this is probably true,
leaving us with nothing but to learn who voted how.

PLENTY enough for some voters.

The votes will be SOMEWHERE!

Everything ELSE has been leaked!

The seeds of future leaksmith
chicanery should be planted now!

Here''s your chance, Leaksmiths!

Are you a dem wanting to make
enough bread to live a little
different by changing your
lifestyle?

Maybe a repub wanting to make
a little extra to live a LOT
different by changing your . . .
socks?

Here''s your chance!

Show us how:
BIDEN AND SHUMER AND MURTHA AND. .
. . . . VOTED!

And make yourself a million!

*And what''s wrong with a showcase
impeachment trial anyway!!?

!! I''D LOVE IT!!; Reply to this comment


by bks59 June 10, 2008 11:25 AM EDT: there is always the world court, the US, by Pres''s order held canadian and german nationals/citezens with out due process and it is alleged they were tortured.; Reply to this comment


by ioweign June 10, 2008 11:14 AM EDT: "An impeachable offense is whatever a majority of the House of Representatives considers it to be at a given moment in history."

Gerald Ford''s Remarks on the Impeachment of Supreme Court Justice William Douglas, April 15, 1970; Reply to this comment