White House Gaggle

By Victoria Jones
White House Gaggle 30 March 2007
By Victoria Jones

President’s Schedule

The President had his usual briefings. He will have policy time at 10.00. At 12.00 he will visit Walter Reed Hospital. He will award 10 Purple Hearts. At 2.55 he will make a statement on his visit. He will spend the weekend at Camp David. The President has sent notification to Congress of his intent to sign the Free Trade Agreement with Panama.

North Korea

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino was asked if there are problems with the free trade agreement with North Korea. She said that the talks are not going well. Unless the talks show some sign of significant progress in the next few hours, this agreement will most likely not come together.

D. Kyle Sampson/Attorney General Gonzales

Perino was asked the President’s reaction to Sampson’s testimony yesterday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, whether the White House could fix the situation with lawmakers on the Hill, and whether they would push Gonzales’ testimony forward from 17 April. Perino said she had not spoken with the President about Sampson’s testimony specifically. The President has complete confidence in the Attorney General. The Justice Department put out a statement last night that they have worked to make sure people have all the information they need.

Perino said she thought some people had misinterpreted her statements from the podium. If she is asked specific questions about what the Attorney General was thinking, there is only so much she can say about his specific thoughts or acts. The President wanted the Attorney General to be fully responsive to Congress. Part of that is providing all the documents that were requested.

The Attorney General has been traveling around the country, talking to US attorneys, to let them know he has their full faith and confidence. The President believes the Attorney General can overcome the challenges that are before him.

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