Tony Snow: 'Not much' to be gained from a transcript of Bush officials on US Attorneys

Michael RostonPublished: Wednesday March 21, 2007

In today's daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said that not much would be gained from on the record testimony of Bush administration officials, and then threatened that the current White House deal would be 'moot' if Congress went ahead and subpoenaed the officials.

"If they issue subpoenas, the offer is withdrawn," Snow said. "It means that they have rejected the offer."

The White House Press Secretary didn't believe that an accommodation couldn't be reached, and pointed out that it had only been 24 hours since the White House issued its offer. But he said no changes would be made to the White House's offer for a private, off the record conversation with Karl Rove and Harriet Miers, top White House aides fingered in the firing of US Attorneys.

"Will we change our conditions, no, but it is probably worth giving members of Congress a little bit of time to think this through," he said.

Snow said that "not much" could be gained from a transcript of the meeting, which House and Senate Judiciary Committee members are seeking, and accused them of trying "to create a court room atmosphere" around the investigation.

DEVELOPING ...

It's not like anyone would like to check it or anything

Tony Snow explains why Congress doesn't need a transcript of what Karl Rove or Harriet Miers might say

By Tim Grieve

The president's oh-so-noble reliance on "executive privilege"

Tony Snow - Op-Ed - St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 29, 1998 :

(HEADLINE: "Executive Privilege is a Dodge")