Peenie Wallie: Scott McLellan starts crawfishing on Rove's role in Plame affair

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July 11, 2005

Scott McLellan starts crawfishing on Rove's role in Plame affair

The AP is reporting that Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, has started crawfishing on claims that Karl Rove was not the person that outed Joe Wilson's wife Valerie Plame as a CIA mole. Although McClellan had previously repeatedly denied Rove's involvement, Rove's lawyer's admission that Rove spoke to Matthew Cooper at Time magazine, apparently caused McClellan to start crawfishing(backing up). The Guardian details some of McClellan's public vacillations on the Rove's involvement.

Sept. 29, 2003:
Q: You said this morning, quote, ``The president knows that Karl Rove wasn't involved.'' How does he know that?
A: Well, I've made it very clear that it was a ridiculous suggestion in the first place. ... I've said that it's not true. ... And I have spoken with Karl Rove.

July 11, 2005:
Q: Do you want to retract your statement that Rove, Karl Rove, was not involved in the Valerie Plame expose?
A: I appreciate the question. This is an ongoing investigation at this point. The president directed the White House to cooperate fully with the investigation, and as part of cooperating fully with the investigation, that means we're not going to be commenting on it while it is ongoing.