The Political Chase

Mueller Releases Notes on Hospital Visit to Congress

As promised in his 7/26 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, FBI Director Robert Mueller has provided the committee his notes (pdf) of the infamous confrontation between Alberto Gonzales and then Acting Attorney General James Comey in John Ashcroft’s hospital.

Mueller’s view that the meeting was “out of the ordinary” prompted his notation of the incident.

Does anybody find it extraordinary that the White House is not obstructing Director Mueller’s full cooperation with Congress, when they have literally blocked everybody else? Mueller has yet, to my knowledge, asserted any White House declaration of executive privilege?

I sense Mueller may have taken a “stick in your eye” position with the White House. In other words, if the White House attempts to constrain him and compromise his ethics, Mueller might provide more information than just specific answers to specific questions from Congress.

An excerpt:

Wednesday, 3/10/04:

@1920: Called by DAG while at restaurant with wife and daughter. He is at AG’s hospital with Goldmsith and Philbin. Tells me Card and J. Gonzales are on the way to the hospital to see the AG, but that AG is in no condition to see them, much less make decision to authorize continuation of the program. Asks me to come to AG’s hospital to witness condition of AG.

@1940: At hospital. Card and J. Gonzales have come and gone. Comey tells me that they saw the AG and were told by the AG that he was in no condition to decide issues, and that Comey was the Acting AG. All matters were to be taken to him, but that he supported the Acting AG’s position. The AG then reviewed for them the legal concerns relating to the program. The AG also told them that he was barred from obtaining the advice he needed on the program by the strict compartmentalization rules of the WH. Comey asked me to meet briefly with the AG to see his condition. He also asked that I inform the detail that no visitors, other than family, were to be allowed to see the AG without my consent. (I so informed the detail.)

@20:10: Saw AG. Janet Ashcroft in the room. AG in chair; is feeble, barely articulate, clearly stressed.