We're doomed. DOOMED!!
WASHINGTON - President Bush has consulted an outside lawyer in case he needs to retain him in the grand jury investigation of who leaked the name of a covert CIA operative last year, the White House said Wednesday.
There was no indication that was a target of the leak investigation, but the president has decided that "in the event that he needs his advice," he would retain him," White House deputy Claire Buchan.
The attorney is Jim Sharp, she said, confirmed a report by CBS News.
"The president has said that everyone should cooperate in this matter and that would include himself," Buchan said.
She deflected questions about whether Bush had been asked to appear before a grand jury in the case.
Not to mention KAPUT and TOAST!!!
DOOMED!
I'm not a lawyer but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Because this is an election year, the press and Dims will try everything they can to call Bush before a grand jury. I don't think he can use government lawyers to defend against a press leak. They aren't part of government business per say. Bush knows these legal tactics are going to get uglier and more broad. He can't run down to testify about anything and everything, every time the Dims demand it. It would never end. Death by a thousand cuts; Abu Graib X 10. It's time to nip it in the bud. Blind them with briefs and delays until after the election. Regardless, it will be the old Dem stand-by; "Well, he testified about those other things, why won't he testify about this?" Catch 22 for Bush. Any delay perpetrated by Ashcroft or White House lawyers will meet with predictable howls from McAwful and the press. Better to let a non-government hired-gun take the heat.