White House Spokesperson Discusses Political Motivation in Recent Report
During a live question and answer session, White House spokesperson Ian Sams addressed inquiries regarding the Vice President's comments on the recently released report. The spokesperson acknowledged that there was a belief within the administration that the report may have been issued, at least in part, with a motive to inflict political harm on the President. This belief stems from the concerns raised by former Department of Justice (DOJ) officials regarding the potential political repercussions of the report's findings.
Sams emphasized the importance of adhering to departmental policy when providing criticisms or making comments about individuals who have not been indicted. He mentioned that the White House was not objecting to the Vice President's remarks, as they were perceived as powerful and forceful.
Referring to the administration's previous statements, Sams highlighted that attacks on independent systems by Republicans had led to an environment where the special counsel may have felt incentivized to include certain language in the report. However, he rejected the notion that characterizing the report as politically motivated would sow distrust with the public, asserting that such accusations were unwarranted.
The spokesperson drew attention to a letter sent by the President's lawyer and the White House Counsel's Office to the special counsel, which raised concerns about alleged violations of DOJ norms and policies in the report. According to Sams, the administration believes that these comments and remarks went against established guidelines. He argued that the President, during his campaign, had emphasized the importance of restoring the rule of law and was committed to upholding those norms.
Sams underlined that the objections raised by the administration were specifically aimed at criticisms that deviated from the recognized norms. He acknowledged that former attorney generals and other individuals had highlighted this deviation, supporting the administration's stance. The spokesperson rejected the idea that the administration's assertions of political motivation would undermine public trust, stating that they were merely expressing concerns about the report's adherence to established standards.
It is important to note that the spokesperson did not explicitly state whether he believed the report was politically motivated, deferring the question to his remarks on the administration's position. The White House continues to emphasize its commitment to restoring the rule of law and holding to established DOJ policies.
