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Q. One year ago, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York confirmed reports that for the fourth year, they were still conducting a criminal investigation of Bill Clinton for “pardongate.” And my first question, is this and the absence of any reported action on the Sandy Berger case due in any way to the President’s wish that neither of these two men go to prison, like Martha Stewart did?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I still welcome you back to the briefing room. (Laughter.) Les, the President is very much focused on his agenda and on the future and how we can move forward together to get things done. I think those questions are best directed elsewhere.

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111232280912883543

Q. One year ago, the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York confirmed reports that for the fourth year, they were still conducting a criminal investigation of Bill Clinton for “pardongate.” And my first question, is this and the absence of any reported action on the Sandy Berger case due in any way to the President’s wish that neither of these two men go to prison, like Martha Stewart did?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I still welcome you back to the briefing room. (Laughter.) Les, the President is very much focused on his agenda and on the future and how we can move forward together to get things done. I think those questions are best directed elsewhere.

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Q. Scott, you demurred from answering this, this morning in anticipation of the report’s release, so let me ask you again, the report suggests –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I demur from answering again.

Q. Not now. (Laughter.) Well, you may try. (Laughter.)

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111232273826970197

Q. Scott, you demurred from answering this, this morning in anticipation of the report’s release, so let me ask you again, the report suggests –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: I demur from answering again.

Q. Not now. (Laughter.) Well, you may try. (Laughter.)

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FRAN TOWNSEND: Well, in fairness, I think the commission, when you look at the whole report — I grant you, it’s a large document — when you look at the whole report, even the commission acknowledges we’ve enjoyed some successes, particularly in the counterterrorism area… There are still some hiccups. It’s not perfect yet. We need to constantly work to refine that…

Q. But the report would suggest that it’s far more than a few hiccups. It’s more like a massive case of gastroenteritis here that you’re trying to deal with. (Laughter.)

MS. TOWNSEND: Well, look, there is no –

Q. With an additional case of diverticulitis on top of that. (Laughter.)

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111232249295475176

FRAN TOWNSEND: Well, in fairness, I think the commission, when you look at the whole report — I grant you, it’s a large document — when you look at the whole report, even the commission acknowledges we’ve enjoyed some successes, particularly in the counterterrorism area… There are still some hiccups. It’s not perfect yet. We need to constantly work to refine that…

Q. But the report would suggest that it’s far more than a few hiccups. It’s more like a massive case of gastroenteritis here that you’re trying to deal with. (Laughter.)

MS. TOWNSEND: Well, look, there is no –

Q. With an additional case of diverticulitis on top of that. (Laughter.)

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Q. Are we hearing any new language today?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, it’s conversation, so it’s not formal, prepared remarks, per se.

Q. It’s not scripted? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the attacks are. (Laughter.)

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111228365124244830

Q. Are we hearing any new language today?

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Well, it’s conversation, so it’s not formal, prepared remarks, per se.

Q. It’s not scripted? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the attacks are. (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Let me point out, too, we continue to have some good discussions with representatives of the AARP, and we welcome those discussions.

Q. That’s what I was going to ask you about.

MR. McCLELLAN: Pre-emptive. (Laughter.)

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111228358852569243

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Let me point out, too, we continue to have some good discussions with representatives of the AARP, and we welcome those discussions.

Q. That’s what I was going to ask you about.

MR. McCLELLAN: Pre-emptive. (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Sure. I guess the bill — the House passed it shortly after midnight, and then the President signed it at 1:11 a.m., in the morning. The Staff Secretary, Brett Kavanaugh, walked the legislation over to the residence for the President to sign. He came outside his bedroom and signed it in the residence.

Q. Had he been asleep?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he was woken up after it was passed, when it was ready to be signed.

Q. I heard you describe it earlier, he came out of his bedroom and literally signed it standing up in the hall; is that how it went?

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s correct, yes. He was just standing in the hall in the residence an signed the legislation then.

Q. Was he wearing –

Q. Is it safe to assume he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie at the time? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not going into that much detail. Yes, he cleaned up, put on his suit — (laughter.)

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111144475312690980

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Sure. I guess the bill — the House passed it shortly after midnight, and then the President signed it at 1:11 a.m., in the morning. The Staff Secretary, Brett Kavanaugh, walked the legislation over to the residence for the President to sign. He came outside his bedroom and signed it in the residence.

Q. Had he been asleep?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he was woken up after it was passed, when it was ready to be signed.

Q. I heard you describe it earlier, he came out of his bedroom and literally signed it standing up in the hall; is that how it went?

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s correct, yes. He was just standing in the hall in the residence an signed the legislation then.

Q. Was he wearing –

Q. Is it safe to assume he wasn’t wearing a suit and tie at the time? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m not going into that much detail. Yes, he cleaned up, put on his suit — (laughter.)

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Q. Back to Italy. Your President, our President and the administration have repeatedly said there will be no timetable –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Everybody else agree? (Laughter.)

Q. There is no timetable for –

MR. McCLELLAN: Sometimes I wonder.

Q. — U.S. withdrawal –

Q. Awww –

MR. McCLELLAN: I said it with a smile.

Q. I meant to say you and the administration. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Me and my President?

Q. Right.

MR. McCLELLAN: Herman is waiting to jump in on this one.

Q. I’m behaving. I’m behaving. (Laughter.)

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111094891321263484

Q. Back to Italy. Your President, our President and the administration have repeatedly said there will be no timetable –

SCOTT McCLELLAN: Everybody else agree? (Laughter.)

Q. There is no timetable for –

MR. McCLELLAN: Sometimes I wonder.

Q. — U.S. withdrawal –

Q. Awww –

MR. McCLELLAN: I said it with a smile.

Q. I meant to say you and the administration. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Me and my President?

Q. Right.

MR. McCLELLAN: Herman is waiting to jump in on this one.

Q. I’m behaving. I’m behaving. (Laughter.)

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SCOTT McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Helen [Thomas].

Q. Diplomacy depends on policy. You can’t sell what is unsaleable. If the policy remains that we will engage further in preemptive war, you cannot sell it to the Middle East, I’m sure, or anywhere else. So are you going to change any policy?

MR. McCLELLAN: Our policy is to expand freedom and democracy and to support the aspirations of people –

Q. By gunpoint?

MR. McCLELLAN: — and support the aspirations of people in countries around the world that do not have the freedoms that we enjoy. And, no, Helen, the President made it very clear in his inaugural address that it is not primarily the use of arms. It is supporting the aspirations of the people in those countries and doing all we can to stand with those people as they seek greater freedoms. We are standing with the people of Lebanon. We are standing with the people of the Palestinian Territories. We are standing with –

Q. We also invaded Iraq.

MR. McCLELLAN: — we are standing with the people of Iraq, and the people of Iraq have shown that freedom is a universal value. They stood up and defied the terrorists and went to the polls.

Q. And we invaded the country.

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead, Terry.

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