White House stays largely silent on destroyed CIA tapes

WHITE HOUSE (AP) — White House lawyers have advised President Bush’s spokeswoman not to answer specific questions about why the CIA destroyed tapes of terror suspects under interrogation.

White House press secretary Dana Perino says she will adhere to instructions from the White House counsel’s office not to get into details with reporters. But she says her previous statement — that the president has no recollections of hearing about the tapes’existence or their destruction before being briefed about it last Thursday — remains accurate.

The White House typically stops commenting, beyond broad talking points, once an inquiry into a controversial matter is under way.

Congressional leaders are pressing to find out who knew what about the CIA’s destruction of interrogation videotapes and whether justice was obstructed in the process.