Bush: No Comment On Rove
Dems Seek Bush Adviser's Ouster Over Leak; Time Reporter Testifies
-
Play CBS Video Video Reporter Names Rove As Source Matt Cooper acknowledged his confidential White House source on the CIA leak was indeed Karl Rove. John Roberts reports that Rove's immediate problem is not likely criminal, but political.
-
Video Bush: Will Not Prejudge CBS News Raw: President Bush met with his cabinet and discussed Karl Rove. He expressed that he 'will not prejudge, based on media reports.'
-
Video John Roberts Reports CBS News' White House Correspondent John Roberts gave a summary of the White House's mum on Karl Rove, the president's 30th Cabinet meeting, homeland security and John Bolton.
-
-
President Bush meets with members of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 13, 2005, as his deputy chief of staff Karl Rove, left, looks on. (AP)
-
Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper's e-mails suggest that Karl Rove spoke with him about CIA officer Valerie Plame before her name was leaked to the press. (AP)
-
-
Interactive The Leak: Key Players People, events and connections in the leak of a CIA operative's name.
-
Interactive Bush Presidency The president's agenda, plus facts, figures, major events and key personalities.
"This is a serious investigation," Mr. Bush said at the end of a meeting with his Cabinet. "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 later wrote an article that identified her.
As CBS News Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts reports, Rove's immediate problem is not likely criminal, but political. President Bush vowed last year to fire anyone found to have leaked classified information. Rove's attorney Robert Luskin insists his client never intended to disclose the identity of a CIA operative, only warn Cooper of potentially bad information. So Mr. Bush must weigh whether that rises to a firing offense.
The president's statement Wednesday was a surprise for some White House advisers and senior Republicans who had expected him to deliver a vote of confidence for Rove, his deputy chief of staff.
Mr. 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," he said. Rove sat stoically behind Mr. Bush during the questions about his involvement.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said later that the president didn't express his confidence in Rove because he wasn't directly asked if he supports him. But he said Mr. Bush still has confidence in Rove.
"Every person who works here at the White House, including Karl Rove, has the confidence of the president," McClellan said.
According to Luskin, Rove is in no danger of criminal charges, reports Roberts. Luskin told Roberts that prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald assured Rove that he is not a target of the investigation. Whether the disclosure of the e-mail exchange with Cooper changes this remains to be seen, but Luskin insists that there is nothing in the e-mail that Rove has not already discussed with prosecutors and the grand jury.
Read John Roberts' analysis of the Rove controversy
©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More From Politics
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
