March 6, 2010 5:16 AM
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Rumsfeld Denies Tillman Cover-Up
Ex-Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other top former Pentagon brass denied any cover-up and rejected personal responsibility Wednesday for the military's bungled response to Army Ranger Pat Tillman's friendly-fire death in Afghanistan.
"I know that I would not engage in a cover-up. I know that no one in the White House suggested such a thing to me. I know that the gentlemen sitting next to me are men of enormous integrity and would not participate in something like that," Rumsfeld told a House committee.
It was Rumsfeld's first public appearance on Capitol Hill since President Bush replaced him with Robert Gates late last year. He reiterated previous testimony to investigators that he didn't have early knowledge that Tillman was cut down on April 22, 2004, by fellow Rangers, not by enemy militia, as was initially claimed.
The truth was kept from the public and Tillman's own family until five weeks later — May 29, 2004. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, and other family members watched from the back row at Wednesday's hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
But former Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers said he did know there were questions about Tillman's death long before the family and public were told the truth. But he said it was the Army's job, not his, to tell the family.
"This is the responsibility of the United States Army, not of the office of the chairman, so I regret that the Army did not do their duty here and follow their own policy," Myers said.
Rumsfeld and Myers both said they couldn't remember precisely how they learned of Tillman's death or that it might be friendly fire.
"I don't recall precisely how I learned that he was killed," Rumsfeld said. "It could have been internally or it could have been through the press."
Rumsfeld and Miers both denied telling the White House the real story, CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports, but said someone else at the Pentagon might have.
At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow said the administration stands by Rumsfeld's comment that there was no cover-up of how Tillman died.
"I'm certainly not going to contradict Secretary Rumsfeld," Snow said.
"It is deeply regrettable that this sort of thing happened, and you try to make sure that it doesn't happen at anytime," he added.
Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after 9/11.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that unanswered questions surrounding Tillman's death reach into the highest ranks of the Pentagon and beyond.
"The concealment of Cpl. Tillman's fratricide caused millions of Americans to question the integrity of our government, yet no one will tell us when and how the White House learned the truth," said Waxman.
Greeting Rumsfeld as he entered the hearing room were two activists who held signs reading "war criminal."
"Are you not ashamed?" one said. Rumsfeld didn't react.
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "I know that I would not engage in a cover-up. I know that no one in the White House suggested such a thing to me. I know that the gentlemen sitting next to me are men of enormous integrity and would not participate in something like that," Rumsfeld told a House committee.
It was Rumsfeld's first public appearance on Capitol Hill since President Bush replaced him with Robert Gates late last year. He reiterated previous testimony to investigators that he didn't have early knowledge that Tillman was cut down on April 22, 2004, by fellow Rangers, not by enemy militia, as was initially claimed.
The truth was kept from the public and Tillman's own family until five weeks later — May 29, 2004. Tillman's mother, Mary Tillman, and other family members watched from the back row at Wednesday's hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
But former Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers said he did know there were questions about Tillman's death long before the family and public were told the truth. But he said it was the Army's job, not his, to tell the family.
"This is the responsibility of the United States Army, not of the office of the chairman, so I regret that the Army did not do their duty here and follow their own policy," Myers said.
Rumsfeld and Myers both said they couldn't remember precisely how they learned of Tillman's death or that it might be friendly fire.
"I don't recall precisely how I learned that he was killed," Rumsfeld said. "It could have been internally or it could have been through the press."
Rumsfeld and Miers both denied telling the White House the real story, CBS News correspondent Bob Fuss reports, but said someone else at the Pentagon might have.
At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow said the administration stands by Rumsfeld's comment that there was no cover-up of how Tillman died.
"I'm certainly not going to contradict Secretary Rumsfeld," Snow said.
"It is deeply regrettable that this sort of thing happened, and you try to make sure that it doesn't happen at anytime," he added.
Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after 9/11.
Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., charged that unanswered questions surrounding Tillman's death reach into the highest ranks of the Pentagon and beyond.
"The concealment of Cpl. Tillman's fratricide caused millions of Americans to question the integrity of our government, yet no one will tell us when and how the White House learned the truth," said Waxman.
Greeting Rumsfeld as he entered the hearing room were two activists who held signs reading "war criminal."
"Are you not ashamed?" one said. Rumsfeld didn't react.
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Scott Conroy Scott Conroy is a National Political Reporter for RealClearPolitics and a contributor for CBS News.
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