White House lets Rice testify to 9/11 Commission
The White House backed down today and will allow National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to testify in public under oath before the commission investigating the failure to prevent the September 11 terrorist attack,.
An administration official said the decision is conditioned on the Bush administration receiving assurances in writing from the commission that such a step does not set a precedent.
It appeared the administration already had such assurances verbally in private and is confident it will get them in writing.
White House legal counsel Alberto Gonzales has sent a letter to the commission stating that Rice is prepared to testify publicly as long as the administration receives from the panel that this is not precedent setting, the official said.
Congressional leaders, the official added, have already stated that this would not be a new precedent.
