WH now using Plame/Wilson civil lawsuit as excuse for not commenting on Plame outing

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/11/AR2007121102334.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

For months, the White House has been ducking any comment on l'affaire Plame, telling reporters that President Bush fervently wanted to chat but simply could not discuss it because the matter was "under investigation," then it was in trial, then it was on appeal.

But after top aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby dropped his appeal Monday, some silly reporters thought that ended the rationale for not saying why Bush didn't fire former counselor Karl Rove after pledging to can anyone who outed former spook Valerie Plame.

Reporters tried again Monday, and White House press secretary Dana Perino said she would check. At the press "gaggle" yesterday, Perino was asked if she had "had a chance to talk with the president about the Scooter Libby case."

"I have not," she said, "but I did talk to our counsel's office because I forgot that there is a civil case that is pending on this issue. I did forget. The Wilsons have filed a case in civil court, it was dismissed, and they are on appeal."

Could be years.