Washington (CNN)-It's never too early to play hardball presidential politics. Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus penned a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an investigation of an "apparent crime" committed by President Barack Obama Monday.
According to Priebus, the crime was committed by the president, in the Map Room, with a video.
Priebus accused the president of recording a fundraising appeal in the Map Room of the White House. He said it is "not part of the White House residence, but rather 'occupied in the discharge of official duties,'" and called for the Department of Justice to investigate.
The Map Room is located on the ground floor of the White House.
"According to multiple individuals with knowledge of the White House's rooms and layout, the video appears to have been recorded in the Map Room...the White House Counsel has indicated that the video was filmed somewhere in the residential portion of the White House," Priebus said.
It is illegal to solicit contributions for a political purpose from any area of the White House "occupied in the discharge of official duties," or, used for purposes of official White House business.
But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz told CNN, "As we've said in the past, this was wholly appropriate and routinely done in past administrations."
"Many lawyers and experts have all said publicly that what this administration is doing is completely above board," Schultz fired back.
Despite the RNC's claims, both Republican and Democratic administrations have considered the Map Room as part of the White House residence.
From CNN Politics
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Just when you think they cannot act more like spoiled brats...........................
This just in: According to Mike Rudolph, a member of the conservative group, Watch Everything Obama Says And Does, President Obama farted in the Oval Office while conducting an international meeting with China. "This clearly violates the Clean Air Act," Rudolph says.
Why would you even print this RNC "press release" for them? You end the article with this: "Despite the RNC's claims, both Republican and Democratic administrations have considered the Map Room as part of the White House residence." If that's true, then this post should be taken off your website. If it's not true, then you shouldn't print it. If it's conjecture by the DNC, then you should print it as such. You do realize, of course, that the RNC are laughing at you right now that they were able to get you to print this, don't you?
Good Lord, how low will they go, and how far will they reach?
Obama 2012
don't these people have anything better to do..like i dunno..come to a deal on the budget??
a bit ticky tacky but hey rules are rules unless you are BHO.
... but it was OK for then-President George Bush to use a U.S. airctraft carrier, its aircraft and its personnel for his infamous "Mission Accomplished" fiasco. Every news organization, including that "fair and balanced" media outlet owned by Murdoch, said that those pictures would be used in Bush's '04 campaign. I guess the Iraqui insurgents had other ideas and that plan blew up in the GOP's face.
"But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business."
no story here, please move along.
What kind of name is Rinse Prybus?
The RNC needs to stop!!
Priebus would do well to focus his time and effort on fronting a viable Republican candidate to go up against President Obama in next year's election.
Isn't there something just pathetic and silly about arguing about such arcane matters as this as our ship of state flounders? Wouldn't you think the RNC chairman would have more pressing and serious matters on his mind?
grow up.....if president bush did it, is was ok....but as soon as president blacky mcblacky black guy does it u get your panties in a bunch....why dont you worry more about the bachmans trying to pray away the gay, or senator santorum shooting his mouth off about how senator mccain doesnt understand enhanced interrorgations......or try to help your lead guy, gov romney, in the south, where they think mormons are the devil......
Just another whiney republican, should not expect anything other than childish complaining.
A Fool and a tool= republican.
Cry me a freakin river. GW Bush and every other President has used to power of incumbency to try to be re-elected. He is the President . Get over yourselves.
And this is why the US will never recover from the slump you're in. Republicans are too busy wasting time, doing anything to fight with the Dems and not making an effort to work together and fix the mess that they caused in the first place. It truly makes me sad to see the Republicans pulling stunts like this, why can't they see what they're doing? They only care about one thing, getting back in power.
You go get 'em , Reincey, baby! (nutcake)
Grasping at straws. Too bad you have nothing more pressing to worry about than where the president taped a video. Sheesh we are the dumbest generation.
It's soooo sad, pathetic even, some of the crap the GOP has come up with over the past 3 1/2 yrs. Relentless in your attempted persecution of someone that simply wants to improve this country. SAD!!
And this will create how many jobs Reince? Once again Republicans proving they will stop at nothing to get rid of Obama.
Can we please get a viable 3rd party to take over that is middle of the road because the current system aint working.
Republicans and Priebus are getting very, very desperate.
RNC please, we have other things to take care of. Lets address this another day.
Why don't you republican Quit complaining and do something about getting the Dept ceiling Pass. that all you Republican do Is Complain say no and LIE. So shut up no body care about little crap like that. They don't you Republican try earning your money you been pay for the last 11 years. It time you started to earn your money. The Problem with America right now Is you Republican and the Tea Party. You are killing America, and you are trying to take the American People with you. And In 2012 the American people are going to show you we are feed up with the Party of NO and never what to Compromise, and feed up with all the Lie and you thinking you are God.
"But the Map Room is considered to be part of the White House residence, and has been for decades. The residence is not subject to restrictions placed on rooms used for official business."
Yo' Rice Princess, find some other useless RNC perceived "criminal action" to blather on about, this one is a waste of our time and bandwidth.