An Important Indictment

"Tuesday's audience included staffers whose last names began with the early letters of the alphabet, including White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, the president's top political advisor, is expected to attend class today."

McClellan wouldn't directly acknowledge that the ethics classes had anything to do with the leak scandal: "The President made this decision in light of recent circumstances, that we should take this action," he said.

From the briefing transcript:

"Q Is this all we should expect from the President, the ethics refresher courses, the extent of his reaction to the indictment?

"MR. McCLELLAN: Well, as you're aware, if you're asking a question about an ongoing investigation, we're not going to have further say at this point while it continues. It is a very serious matter, and we are going to continue to cooperate. That's what the President directed us to do and that's what we are doing.

"Q I asked you a different question. Is this the full extent of what the President deems necessary, 'in light of circumstances?'

"MR. McCLELLAN: The President is always free to take the action that he feels is appropriate."

Nedra Pickler reports for the Associated Press: "The Democratic National Committee dismissed the briefings.

" 'Given that Karl Rove is still reporting for work every day with his security clearance, I'm sure the American people will see these so-called ethics classes for the cheap political stunt that they are,' said communications director Karen Finney. 'If President Bush were truly serious about restoring ethics -- not to mention his own credibility -- he would have no problem keeping his word to fire anyone involved in the CIA leak scandal, starting with Karl Rove.' "

Libby's Defense Fund

Richard W. Stevenson and Eric Lichtblau write in the New York Times: "I. Lewis Libby Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, is establishing a fund to help pay for his legal defense in the C.I.A. leak case, and associates of Mr. Libby have begun soliciting money from his friends and Republican donors, lawyers and people who have been contacted about the fund said on Tuesday. . . .

"But in establishing the fund, Mr. Libby is opening himself to questions. Legal and campaign finance specialists said, he could face scrutiny about whether any financial assistance he might receive from allies of President Bush and Mr. Cheney was going to finance a defense strategy intended in part to minimize harm to the administration."

Pardon Me?

David Espo writes for the Associated Press: "The Senate's top Democrats challenged President Bush on Tuesday to rule out a pardon for I. Lewis Libby, a former top White House aide who faces trial on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury in the CIA leak case.