June 9, 2008
Posted: 05:59 PM ET
Scott McClellan is expected to testify in the CIA leak case.
Scott McClellan is expected to testify in the CIA leak case.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Bush's former spokesman, Scott McClellan, will testify before a House committee next week about whether Vice President Dick Cheney ordered him to make misleading public statements about the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity.

McClellan will testify publicly and under oath before the House Judiciary Committee on June 20 about the White House's role in the leak and its response, his attorneys, Michael and Jane Tigar, said on Monday.

In his new book, "What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's Culture of Deception," McClellan said he was misled by others, possibly including Cheney, about the role of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby in the leak. McClellan has said publicly that Bush and Cheney "directed me to go out there and exonerate Scooter Libby."

The statements prompted House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., to invite McClellan to the hearing "concerning reported attempts to cover up the involvement of White House officials in the leak of" Plame's identity.

Plame's CIA identity was leaked to the news media by several top Bush administration officials in 2003, including Libby and former top White House political adviser Karl Rove. Last July, Bush commuted Libby's 2 1/2-year sentence, sparing him from serving any prison time after being convicted of perjury, obstructing justice and lying to the FBI.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., also is seeking more FBI documents about the leak in part because of McClellan's description of the way he was instructed to respond to questions on the matter.

At Libby's trial, witnesses testified that Cheney, Libby and other Bush administration officials mounted a campaign to counter criticism of the Iraq war by Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson. Cheney's spokeswoman, Cathie Martin, testified that Cheney personally wrote out statements and talking points for Libby and other aides to give to reporters to rebut Wilson's allegations.

Filed under: Uncategorized


Al, California   June 9th, 2008 6:04 pm ET

How long to wait till jail time or at least impeachment for everyody who authorized for that war?

Americans for america   June 9th, 2008 6:05 pm ET

Democrats Beware!

Republicans have launched a blogosphere campaign where they claim to be Democrats who will vote for Senator McCain since Senator Clinton is not the democratic nominee!

Do not be fooled!

This is nothing more than republican tricknology, Karl Rovian VODOO; Of course all real democrats would NEVER vote for George W. Bush’s third term, ENDLESS war, overturning of Roe V. Wade, or more record profits and tax breaks for oil companies while the average American spending power continues to thin.

Be Brave Democrats and be watchful!

With a majority Democratic legislature and a Democratic President we can see real change not gridlock! Wake up Dems do not be fooled.

Republican tired of the LIES   June 9th, 2008 6:05 pm ET

Hopefully there will be some accountability for the crimes this "administration" has committed. After all … wasn't "accountability" one of Bush's original campaign pledges in 2000? …

Bayou Joe   June 9th, 2008 6:07 pm ET

I hope he goes to prison for betraying our government. Congress has a lot of time to waste on non issues. I guess debating Immigration and doing something about our dependence on oil is too controversial for them.

I guess it is safer and makes for good politics to kick the administration. Congress needs to look in the mirror for the problems of the economy and the oil prices.

VOTE them all out of office and start fresh.

Chula   June 9th, 2008 6:09 pm ET

This guy should be held just as accountable as anyone else in the Bush administration.

He's just another Obama…….when it mattered he stayed silent and now that it is politically profitable…….he wants us to believe he didn't know what was going on.

All I can say is go take a hike and take Obama with you!

We're tired of the dirty politics of the Bush Team and the Obama Team.

Sam Houston, GA   June 9th, 2008 6:11 pm ET

Impeach Bush/Cheney and put Rove before a firing squad made up of the parents of young men and women that have died for the mess the three traitors made of this country and Iraq !!!!!!!

Ardnuas   June 9th, 2008 6:12 pm ET

Good…….ONE person willing to tell the truth…..it would be nice if the other weasels testifed too.
Obama/Hagel08

Jeff, Huntington Beach, CA   June 9th, 2008 6:14 pm ET

Hopefully he does not end up "missing" before then. This Administration has shown they are capable of anything.
Oh, by the way… God Bless America as they say.

Jack B Bertram   June 9th, 2008 6:14 pm ET

Dear Mr. Blitzer,
I was delighted this afternoon to watch you hand Lou Dobbs a fine uppercut when that great, bigoted, bloviating Huey Long of a hatemonger tried to step on your lede for the McClellan hearings. He blushes brilliantly and backpedals badly at best!!

Next time, go in for the kill with a rabbit-punch. Dobbs' obnocious ethnocentrism and willingness to pander to the ignorami amongst us clearly distinguishes him (invidiously) from the rest of your team.

Could he perhaps be transferred to CNN Headline News… where he would doubtless find happiness among his own sort of folks? Better yet, mayhap you might trade him to Faux News.. or the Shopping Channel….

Democrat in LA   June 9th, 2008 6:15 pm ET

Please, let's wait until Obama is elected to start cleaning house. Last thing the country needs is a pre-election witch hunt.

Mike   June 9th, 2008 6:15 pm ET

Did I just hear the White House go "D'oh!"?

It will be funny to hear them claim "Executive Privilege" after they had the book run by them months in advance.

Willy   June 9th, 2008 6:16 pm ET

this is one back stabber looking for a meal ticket

anonymous   June 9th, 2008 6:18 pm ET

dang. Bush and Cheney have got blood on their hands.

Doris,Memphis,TN   June 9th, 2008 6:18 pm ET

Great Job Scott! May the force be with you!

Brian   June 9th, 2008 6:19 pm ET

This just in: Oil executives are now covered by Bush's Executive Privilege. McCain fully supports the immunity given to the oil execs and says the American should pay 3 times as much for gas than they are paying now.

ObamaSupporter   June 9th, 2008 6:20 pm ET

Good for you Scott we need to see Karl Rove and Dick Cheney go Jail.

Greg   June 9th, 2008 6:20 pm ET

Good, let the real truth come out about how bush lied to all of us!

Lee   June 9th, 2008 6:21 pm ET

How can you blame Karl Rove for the leak with a straight face when it has already been proven that Richard Armitage was the source of the leak? Let the GOP witch-hunt continue, CNN!

ENOUGH   June 9th, 2008 6:21 pm ET

Good!!

Here's a suggestion…Instead of showing it on C-SPAN - how 'bout a prime-time tape delayed showing on ABC, NBC, or CBS.

Eric   June 9th, 2008 6:22 pm ET

Bush and Cheney need to be prosecuted, they are crminals.

Dave in Houston   June 9th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

Bring out the im-peach-ment pie!

Scott's gonna spill the beans on Cheney and his impeachment process will finally begin. After Cheney goes down, the limp, lame Democrats in Congress might start looking at Bush. Kucinich and Wechsler(sp?) (of Fla.) have had it right all along. I don't care if Cheney and Bush are removed from office at 11:50 AM on Jan. 20, 2009; I just want my child and her children to read in the history books that what they did was unacceptable to the American people and our Constitution.

DJ, LA, CA   June 9th, 2008 6:23 pm ET

Busted…the house of cards is crumbling down.

Mike   June 9th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Idiot!!!!!!!!!

TB   June 9th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Why aren't these guys in jail!!!!???????!!!!!!!!

Ralph   June 9th, 2008 6:26 pm ET

This guy is so credible. You know the GOP is scared to death what will happen when the truth removes all doubt from what most of us had surmized.

Brian   June 9th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

I can no longer support John McCain. I CANNOT vote for the same person now pandering for Clinton's votes. Talk about a flip flop. I will now be voting Libertarian.

Thank you and good riddance to the GOP

Anita from Arizona   June 9th, 2008 6:27 pm ET

He gonna testify under oath. Maybe he was telling the truth.

Becky   June 9th, 2008 6:28 pm ET

I knew this was coming, apparently this is more important why my tuition is so high, my Grocery prices are about 45% more, and everything that is more urgent,,,, quite franklly we-need to grow, the harm has already happened.. let's deal with first things first fix the gas prices, suggestion, get them lowered or provide public transportation everywhere…. and again nothing ever happens

Matt   June 9th, 2008 6:28 pm ET

Good! I dont know if i can wait until 1-20-09…maybe this will get them out of the white house first!

Relief   June 9th, 2008 6:33 pm ET

Please focus on this type of issues and stop giving the Hillary Clinton supporters so much attention.

LYNETTE IN CA   June 9th, 2008 6:38 pm ET

Heads Will Roll! I hope!

Robert W. Sparks   June 9th, 2008 6:41 pm ET

Do any of you see where this is going? Since it can now be shown that the Bush Administration started a war on the basis of methodically propagated false information, I'd bet that Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Powell, Wolfowitz, and Fleishcher will all be called to testify before Congress. And if Obama is elected President, I'd bet that part of the "change" he's wanting is that politicians be held accountable for their actions. Which means this group could be in for real hot water but McClellan will be exonerated due to his book.

GUY   June 9th, 2008 6:44 pm ET

Sweet… let's stir up some drama and maybe, just maybe the truth will come out!! PLEASE!!! It's time for truth and consequences!

Susan Frishkorn   June 9th, 2008 6:44 pm ET

In the past America was considered a country of laws, not of men.

We have changed.

Susan Frishkorn

William, from Cali   June 9th, 2008 6:50 pm ET

If he was "Mislead" by others; why didn't he "Stand-up" then? Oh, his conscience; wasn't bothering him then!…………..Why now: is it???????

Archie H.   June 9th, 2008 6:51 pm ET

So what would be the surprise in this non event partisan Bush bashing?

EBC   June 9th, 2008 6:52 pm ET

GIVE 'EM HELL Scott and don't pay any attention to those "Bush" cronies trying to wipe the eggs off their faces. They'll get over it soon enough. ha! ha!

ANGIE   June 9th, 2008 6:54 pm ET

NOW WILL BUSH AN HIS ADMINISTRATION GO TO JAIL WHERE THEY BELONG OUR ARE THEY GOING TO GET AWAY WITH IT LIKE THEY HAVE FOR 7 YEARS

Lovely in VA   June 9th, 2008 6:55 pm ET

Oh Good ! Just in time. I'm sure McSame will have NO COMMENT or I DON'T REMEMBER.

All aboard the Obama train, coming to a city near you!!

Brick by brick, block by block, city by city…….
YES WE CAN !!!!!

ct voter   June 9th, 2008 6:57 pm ET

This guy is great! I'm glad he's doing the right thing!

Time for Truth   June 9th, 2008 6:58 pm ET

Thanks Scott !

Put the crooks in jail and take that old man McCain with them.
November cannot get here fast enough.

Venus   June 9th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

The more this stays in the news the better news for Obama!

Cody S. - Montgomery, AL   June 9th, 2008 6:59 pm ET

I give it about a day or two before Scott McClellan "disappears".

Juan   June 9th, 2008 7:01 pm ET

He's just as bad as the people he is ratting out. If this were any other crime, he'd be an accomplice and unable to make any money off his book deal.

DM   June 9th, 2008 7:02 pm ET

This weill lead to President Bush and Dick Chaney being IMPEACHED. After, all the military deaths he needs to answer for it and Dick Chaney all the Oil prices fixing just look at Micheal Moore tape "9/11″ this all seems to make since now.

IMPEACH BUSH AND CHANEY NOW and Send them both to jail…

Too many live lost…

McSame   June 9th, 2008 7:05 pm ET

it is about time some truth will be revealed.

Loretta from California   June 9th, 2008 7:05 pm ET

We all know that nothing will happen. It never does.

KMAN   June 9th, 2008 7:06 pm ET

I'm hoping to see DICK cheney tell his side UNDER OATH to Congress right after McClellan testifies! But I won’t hold my breath wait for DICK to tell the truth about anything! DICK has given dicks in general a bad name!!

Cynthia   June 9th, 2008 7:06 pm ET

McCellan go in and tell the truth and shame all those involved so that they can be sent to the honeycone (jail). I hope that it will be televised so that all of the people of have lost loved ones over in Iraq can hear about all of those responsible.

Jenna   June 9th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

McClelan Go get a job! Recommendation from a Democrat…

Juan   June 9th, 2008 7:07 pm ET

And this is what Congress thinks is the best use of their time? All of the other problems to focus on…and what this is how they spend my tax dollars?

People were giving the admin a beating over not stopping 9/11 after a year and a half, but this Congress has done NOTHING in the last year and a half and has a plan to do NOTHING for the next year but cry over spilt milk. Where is the outrage?

Greg, Hamilton Ontario   June 9th, 2008 7:12 pm ET

The sad thing is McCain (who lies to you every day) is treated as a war hero while this guy after a lot of soul serching will, in the end, only be known as a Rat.

Crush Rush   June 9th, 2008 7:14 pm ET

Orange jumpsuits for all.Shall we take a Nixon style resignation?They dont have the guts to do the right thing.

Joe Reg   June 9th, 2008 7:15 pm ET

I always think you can not fool all the people

all the time.

Someone will always stand up to deception and deceit.

We salute your courage Scott.

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah   June 9th, 2008 7:17 pm ET

You go boy take it to the house show the GOP what a real man does!

After further review,Texas   June 9th, 2008 7:18 pm ET

I just dont want anyone to be able to pardon them.I want them in Leavenworth or where ever they go .

Casey   June 9th, 2008 7:18 pm ET

Why don't we just skip all this and just impeach Dubbya?

Crawford needs its village idiot back permanently.

G.W. Bush - the worst president in American history.

Sharon   June 9th, 2008 7:19 pm ET

Scott McClellan when did this guy wake up?

Well one thing is for sure. If he knew all this and did not report. He should be prosecuted.

Then to come out and try to make a profit from it.

Is it true or just something he made up to make some money.

Just Because he made a book, does not mean it is true.

Darth Vadik, CA   June 9th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

SOMEBODY IS GOING TO JAIL.

Marilyn   June 9th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

Outstanding.. I have a suggestion for all media.. Why don't all stations show this minute by minute? Let the Country really see what happened.

Marilyn
Louisiana

Chris California   June 9th, 2008 7:24 pm ET

"Support Our Troops!", he cried. Then he poisoned their ears with stories of fear and horror, and sent them across oceans to destroy an ancient and distant land. Then he laid blame at the feet of those who had tried to help him.

Monica for Obama in Indiana   June 9th, 2008 7:25 pm ET

I hope McClellan, has protection. He is going to tell the truth. If they get Bush and Chenney out of the white house, isn't the Speaker of the House in next in Charge?

Independent-woman-4-Obama   June 9th, 2008 7:29 pm ET

What I REALLY want to know is WHY the Congress has not impeached Bush & Cheney???????!!!!

The Republican Congress was quick to impeach Pres. Clinton for lying under oath about having "sex with that woman!"

WHY ARE THE DEMS NOT PROCEEDING WITH IMPEACHING, BUSH, OVER THE LIES THAT HE TOLD TO JUSTIFY THE WAR IN IRAQ? AND WHY ARE THEY NOT IMPEACHING HIM FOR VIOLATING THE GENEVA CONVENTION ON TORTURE?!

rich   June 9th, 2008 7:41 pm ET

I want to know, and I'm sure many Americans want to know: is anyone going to be held responsibe for lying to the them about the reasons for going to war in Iraq that has led to the deaths of over 4000 Americans, countless wounded, and many times over the deaths and misery of the Iraqi people??

Is it possible that Bush and company will walk out of the White House come January 2009 without any degree of responsibility for their actions? If they do, I will never believe in the word justice again as far as our country is concerned. Somebody has to be accountable for this mess.

I would argue that this fiasco in Iraq and the policies of the Bush administration has led directly to the economic wooes that the country is facing right now. After 911, I recall Bin Laden putting out a tape where he said that one of his goals was to bankrupt America. From all indicators today, it looks like he has accomplished his goal courtesy of the Bush adminstration and it's terrible policies.

Paul   June 9th, 2008 7:41 pm ET

Been thinking about why Scott did not come forward sooner. It's obvious. He was most likely threatened. (Doh!……Now why didn't I think of that before?) We can thank Mr. Bush for that one.
Good for you, Scott.
Now, how about sharing the truth about 9/11?

blgeorgia   June 9th, 2008 7:47 pm ET

Thank you Scott; may you be one of many who testifies under oath to help us get our country back.

Brian Knoxville, TN   June 9th, 2008 7:47 pm ET

Scott,

Congratulations. You have successfully positioned yourself as a pawn for the Democratic Party leadership to beat on the Bushies in order to damage McCain's campaign.

Three flaws with your plan:

1) Your book was released before the ridiculous Democratic Party's nomination process was completed. Your agent and publisher should have waited until after it was over.

2) The failed Democratic Party's leadership can't distinguish its a.$.$. from its elbow. They will use you like a foil against McCain and somehow manage only to pierce Obama and/or themselves.

3) Everyone stopped caring about what you think within a few hours of the first time you said it. You had your last 15 minutes.

kim portland, oregon   June 9th, 2008 7:57 pm ET

you have the chance to make up for your disgusting part in this disastrous, criminal regime—SO DO IT!!!!

but with these soul-less criminals, you better start sleeping with one eye open!!!

Roker   June 9th, 2008 7:57 pm ET

I am a Republican; and, Im glad that McClellan will be testifying. There's just things you don't do, and the Bush administration crossed the defining line (that's if these allegations are true). There needs to be justice to show these people that no one can mess with the law; not even the president and his people.

It's About Time.....   June 9th, 2008 7:58 pm ET

I am amazed at how this country wanted to impeach President Clinton for a personal failure (albeit not noble at all, but again - personal), but we have let the current president get away with dangerous lies that have resulted in the killings of Americans in Iraq for no reason!

Old Artillery Man   June 9th, 2008 7:58 pm ET

Every since experts from McClellan’s book leaked out the Bush administration and the necons have attacked him, personally, not his book or what he states. If they really want to discredit him and his book, say that when McClellan says so and so he is lying and point to a creditable source to show he is lying. To do this would destroy both him and his book. However they cannot do this so it is just more of if you cannot destroy the message destroy the messenger. So typically republican.

The more they attack him the more I believe and the more I want to hear.

Ian   June 9th, 2008 7:59 pm ET

I wouldn't get too excited just yet. The most secretive excecutive branch in our history won't go down without a fight.

Ridgeway   June 9th, 2008 8:04 pm ET

The "40 Year Old Virgin" speaks. What a miserable excuse for a man.

Mich   June 9th, 2008 8:07 pm ET

THEY'LL BE SQUIRMING SOON ENOUGH

JOHN   June 9th, 2008 8:08 pm ET

LET'S GET READY TO RUMMMMMMMMMMMBLE.

No McSame   June 9th, 2008 8:19 pm ET

Nothing will happen to them. Watch. They are all in bed together, from the top all the way down to the bottom feeder McSame. It's a shame how many lives have been cut short because of them. Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters, Sons and Daughters are gone forever because of their greed and lies.

AFTER ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE DO YOU STILL WANT TO VOTE FOR McSAME? YOU WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO WASH THE BLOOD OFF OF YOUR HANDS.

Reality Check richmond virginia   June 9th, 2008 8:21 pm ET

COOL! However, I am not sure we will get anything more concrete out of this than we ever have, but at the very least, its just more evidence of the corruption of the Bush Admin.

Mike - Ventura, CA   June 9th, 2008 8:24 pm ET

Bush/Cheney for PRISION 2009!

Bill   June 9th, 2008 8:24 pm ET

If Scott sticks to what he KNOWS, rather than his conjectures, his testimony will be a nonevent. If he goes beyond what he knows, let the perjury charges begin. He shouldn't expect his sentence to be commuted.

Farrell, Houston, Tx   June 9th, 2008 8:25 pm ET

Tell the truth McClellan, nothing but the whole truth, we've waited too long.

aware   June 9th, 2008 8:40 pm ET

Scott McClellan caved to the Obama team and is not credible! :(

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