Rove Testifies Again in CIA Leak Probe

Asked if President Bush still has "full confidence in Karl Rove," McClellan declined to answer directly, citing the "ongoing investigation." He added, "Karl continues to do his duties as deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to the president. . . . The president has made it very clear: We're not going to comment on an ongoing investigation."

Rove, 54, who has known the Bush family for more than 30 years, is considered one of Bush's closest advisers and his top political strategist. His association with the family started in 1973 when he worked as an assistant to Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, who was then chairman of the Republican National Committee. Rove served as an adviser to George W. Bush in two successful election campaigns for governor of Texas in the 1990s and was the chief strategist for Bush's two presidential campaigns.

The White House denied two years ago that Rove had been involved in leaking Plame's identity. At around the same time, Bush vowed to fire any staff member who was responsible for such a leak. He later said he would fire anyone on his staff who committed a crime. But he refused to say at a news conference last week whether he would dismiss an aide who was indicted.

According to two former prosecutors, a witness who has already appeared before a grand jury may be recalled to explain why earlier answers appear to conflict with the accounts of other witnesses, or simply to testify about new topics that have arisen in the investigation.

Under Justice Department guidelines, prosecutors must provide witnesses the opportunity to testify again if they want to recant previous testimony that may have been false. The new testimony would not necessarily prevent a prosecutor from bringing charges, but it could be part of that person's defense.

At least three other people have testified before the grand jury since Rove last answered questions: Time magazine reporter Matt Cooper, New York Times reporter Judith Miller and Rove's secretary. Miller, who initially refused to appear and served 85 days in jail for contempt of court, has testified twice before the grand jury since her release.

Under an agreement with Fitzgerald, Miller's testimony focused on her conversations with Libby.

Rove's secretary was questioned about why a phone call from Cooper to Rove in 2003 was not recorded in White House phone logs, according to sources familiar with the probe. She reportedly explained that Cooper called the main switchboard and his call was not logged because it was rerouted to Rove's office.