Lautenberg Requests All Doc From White House Relating to James D. Guckert, A.K.A. Jeff Gannon

Lautenberg ^ | 2/10/05

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON, DC -- In light of yet another scandal involving the Bush administration's manipulation of the media, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today requested from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan all the documents relating to the press credentials of James. D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon"; the "journalist" now famous for being the White House correspondent for his softball questioning of President Bush and various Administration spokespeople.

"I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon." Specifically, I am seeking documentation related to the question of which name Mr. Guckert/Gannon used when applying for credentials, and which name was on the official White House press credentials he received," wrote Lautenberg.

"As you may know, Mr. Guckert/Gannon was denied a Congressional press pass because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization. Given the fact that he was denied Congressional credentials, I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials," Lautenberg wrote.

Senator Lautenberg has been the Senate leader in exposing the Bush administration's propaganda efforts.

February 10, 2005

Scott McClellan Press Secretary The White House Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. McClellan,

I am writing to request that you immediately release documents to my office relating to the White House press credentials of James D. Guckert, a.k.a. "Jeff Gannon." Specifically, I am seeking documentation related to the question of which name Mr. Guckert/Gannon used when applying for credentials, and which name was on the official White House press credentials he received. Additionally, I am seeking documents indicating whether Mr. Guckert/Gannon received a "hard pass" or daily passes from your office. Despite your assertions to the contrary, at least one White House reporter has revealed that Mr. Guckert/Gannon appeared to have "hard pass" credentials.

As you may know, Mr. Guckert/Gannon was denied a Congressional press pass because he could not show that he wrote for a valid news organization. Given the fact that he was denied Congressional credentials, I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials.

I have led the effort in the Senate to investigate a number of instances of troubling propaganda efforts by the Administration. The Government Accountability Office has agreed to my requests to investigate various attempts at media manipulation: fake television news stories touting both the new Medicare law and the "No Child Left Behind" education program; a study rating individual journalists on their "favorability" to Republican education policies; and the payment to journalist Armstrong Williams.

Since the Armstrong Williams controversy became public, Administration payments to two other journalists, Maggie Gallagher and Michael McManus, have come to light. Given the backdrop of these scandals, coupled with Mr. Guckert/Gannon's role in recent White House press briefings and press conferences, it is understandable that the circumstances of Mr. Guckert/Gannon's credentialing have raised suspicion.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely, Frank R. Lautenberg

[areafiftyone]

Well you all can thank the desperation from the DUers for this. They blasted the Gannon stuff to the media and to Senators. Pathetic desperation to bring down Bush again. These idiots never learn. Heard Gannon will be on Wolf Blitzer today at 5:00.

[JesseJane]

FYI~~

[highlandbreeze]

This is getting ridiculous. All because he asked a soft question?

[highnoon]

Bad news for ya' Frank....but we put them in the 'Whitewater' closet, and the darndest thing happened.......

[Dolphy]

Senator Lautenberg has been the Senate leader in exposing the Bush administration's propaganda efforts.

So that's what he's been doing. Here I thought he was an irrelevant dinosaur.

[WoodstockCat]

Lautenberg - the cadaver speaks.

[Dan from Michigan]

I seek your explanation of how Mr. Guckert/Gannon passed muster for White House press credentials.

I seek an explanation for Jayson Blair, Fox Butterfield, and several others.

[JesseJane]

Heard Gannon will be on Wolf Blitzer today at 5:00

Thanks for the headup A51!!

[frogjerk]

The cadaver is alive!

[NormsRevenge]

I just hope old senile Laut can follow the intricacies of the 'case'. lol

[cyncooper]

Thanks for the ping!

[demlosers]

Instead, I'd send Lousyberg a bowl of oatmeal.

[Petronski]

His next pseudonym will have to be Jeff Carrion.

Put an other way, Guckert's been caught in a Bonfire of the Vanities.

[Petronski]

All because he asked a soft question?

All because the left has nothing else to say.

[JimRed]

He asked a question that should have been asked by the MSM, but never would have been.

[gov_bean_ counter]

I'm still wondering HTH most of Clinton's staff got security clearances>

[areafiftyone]

I know it is. The DUers even were able to find some income tax information on Gannon. He didn't pay some $20,000 in taxes according to the IRS!

[gidget7]

I get so confused, which station is Blitzer on?

[Mo1]

Heard Gannon will be on Wolf Blitzer today at 5:00 Thanks for the headup A51!!

Thanks for the info

[Jim Robinson]

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