When the president expressed his belief in Tom DeLay’s innocence, it touched off a little flap that the White House has had trouble defending. Not surprisingly, congressional Dems are taking advantage of the opportunity.
Democratic leaders sternly criticized President Bush yesterday for saying former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) is innocent of felonious campaign finance abuses, suggesting his comments virtually amounted to jury tampering before DeLay stands trial.
“The president of the United States said a jury does not need to assemble, that Tom DeLay is innocent,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). “To have someone of his stature, the president of the United States, prejudge a case is something I’ve never seen before.”
While Reid and other Dems thought Bush had crossed a line, it was, oddly enough, reporters who seemed the most upset. At press briefings over the couple of years, journalists have been told, ad nauseum, that it would be inappropriate for the White House to comment in any way in ongoing legal proceedings. The president seemed to forget about this in his Fox News interview and reporters wanted an explanation from Scott McClellan yesterday. Left with limited options, the press secretary said Bush was exercising his “presidential prerogative.”
Q: And the public is supposed to accept the fact that he’s got no comment on the conduct of senior officials of the White House, but when it’s a political ally over on the Hill who’s got to help him get work done, then he’s happy to try to influence that legal process.
McClellan: No, not at all. Not at all. You can get all dramatic about it, but you know what our policy is…. I think the American people understand.
Q: No, they don’t. And the only thing that’s dramatic is the inconsistency of the policy and you trying to defend it.
Indeed, throughout the briefing, reporters wanted to know why their questions about ongoing legal matters have been ignored while Brit Hume’s question about DeLay’s pending criminal trial gets an answer. They seemed, for lack of a better word, offended.
It was probably a one-day fight, but I do love it when the press corps gets feisty.