Probe Into Political Briefings Expands

We haven't heard much lately about the ongoing investigations into political briefings by White House staffers at federal agencies, but that doesn't mean they've faded into history. In fact, Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., has apparently succeeded in getting House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., to expand the panel's probe into the briefings to include looking into whether similar sessions were held during the Clinton administration.

Here's an e-mail from David Marin, the committee's Republican staff director, on the situation:

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In a letter today, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman agreed with a request made earlier this year by Ranking Member Tom Davis that the Committee “would benefit from requesting copies of any political briefings that the Office of Political Affairs in the Clinton Administration may have given to federal agencies.”

Davis had suggested that the Committee seek Clinton Administration documents from the National Archives to help the Committee “better understand the practices of political officials in the previous administration…to provide bipartisan historical context.” Chairman Waxman also agreed today to support Davis’ request for information on any legal guidance that the Clinton Administration’s White House Counsel may have provided to the Office of Political Affairs about the political presentations.

Davis today said, “I am pleased Chairman Waxman agrees that for the good of this investigation and the good of the Committee, a little ‘compare and contrast’ is needed if we’re to fully understand how the White House political affairs shop operates, whether it’s under President Bush or under President Clinton. The investigation was suffering from a lack of historical context, making it appear more partisan than constructive.”