The Seattle Times: Nation & World: President tries to distance himself, staff from Abramoff

By James Gerstenzang and Peter Wallsten
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — President Bush on Thursday refused to release photographs showing him with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and declined to disclose information about meetings between Abramoff and White House staff.

Recent news reports have described five photographs depicting the president with Abramoff, a longtime Republican fundraiser, apparently shot during White House functions.

Bush's spokesman has acknowledged "a few staff-level meetings" between Abramoff and White House aides took place but has declined to say who met with the lobbyist or what was discussed.

"I had my picture taken with him, evidently," Bush said Thursday, referring to Abramoff. "I've had my picture taken with a lot of people. Having my picture taken with someone doesn't mean that I'm a friend with them or know them very well.

"I've had my picture taken with you," Bush told a reporter who pursued the issue, drawing chuckles.

The president's comments, during an impromptu White House news conference, illustrated the challenges he faces heading into Tuesday's State of the Union address, a speech aides hope will lift Bush above scandals and weakened approval ratings.

He defended the White House decision to bar some top aides from testifying before congressional committees investigating the government response to Hurricane Katrina.

"If people give me advice and they're forced to disclose that advice, it means the next time an issue comes up, I might not be able to get unvarnished advice from my advisers," Bush said.

He also defended his decision to authorize the National Security Agency (NSA) to monitor electronic communications, without court approval, between Americans and suspected al-Qaida members overseas, a decision critics assert was a violation of federal law.

Bush said at least 10 times that he believed he acted lawfully. He took issue with a question that suggested he had circumvented the law.

"Wait a minute," Bush said. "It's like saying, you know, you're breaking the law.

"I'm not. I am upholding my duty, and at the same time doing so under the law and with the Constitution behind me."

When told that his stand on the surveillance policy "seems to sound like something President Nixon once said, which was: 'When the president does it, then that means that it's not illegal,' in the areas involving national security," whispered "oohs" could be heard in the briefing room.

Bush responded: "Most presidents believe that during a time of war that we can use our authorities under the Constitution to make decisions necessary to protect us."

On Thursday, Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo., called for the appointment of a special counsel to take over investigation of Abramoff and his links to lawmakers and their staffs. Abramoff has reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and has said he will cooperate with the investigation.

Time magazine said this week that its reporters had seen five Bush-Abramoff photos and a sixth showing Bush with several of Abramoff's children and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.

None of the photos has been circulated publicly.

Bush said the photos were not relevant to the federal investigation that has gripped Capitol Hill since Abramoff pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. "I, frankly, don't even remember having my picture taken with the guy," Bush said. "I don't know him."