Bush Lawyers Up

Bush Consults Lawyer About CIA Name Leak (washingtonpost.com):

"This is a criminal matter," Bush said. "It's a serious matter. I met with an attorney to determine whether or not I need his advice, and if I deem I need his advice I'll probably hire him."


Earlier, White House spokesman Scott McClellan confirmed that Bush had contacted Jim Sharp, a Washington lawyer and former assistant U.S. attorney who heads his own firm. Bush took the step in case prosecutors or FBI agents want to interview him about the Valerie Plame case, or in the event he is called by a federal grand jury investigating the matter.


Plame's undercover status was revealed when her name appeared in a newspaper column by Robert D. Novak last July 14 that attributed the information to "two senior administration officials." In February 2002, the CIA sent Plame's husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, to investigate assertions that Iraq had attempted to buy nuclear material in Niger, claims that Wilson discredited. Wilson later became a leading critic of the White House's case for invading Iraq and has suggested that his wife's identity was leaked to discourage others from questioning the administration.


McClellan said Bush "has had discussions" with Sharp about representing him in connection with the case.


"In the event he needs his advice, the president would probably retain him," McClellan said. "The president has been very clear in saying that he wants the White House to cooperate fully, and that would include himself.""

This leads to some serious consideration as to why the Resident feels that a lawyer would be necessary. Of course, oral sex in the White House is a much more serious offense, no wonder Clinton was investigated within an inch of his sanity....