Is White House Counsel Gregory Craig Getting Played in a Washington Parlor Game?
Last night, the Wall Street Journal (subscription) sent out a news alert claiming that President Obama’s White House counsel, Gregory Craig, is getting kicked to the curb:
Obama administration officials are holding discussions that could result in White House counsel Gregory Craig leaving his post, following a rocky tenure, people familiar with the matter said.
The WSJ implies that Craig — a former Williams & Connolly partner, perhaps best known for extracting President Clinton from the impeachment mess — has botched advising the President on several national-security issues, including the Guantanamo prison closure, the release of national-security documents from the Bush era, and detainee holdings.
But the White House says ‘whoa, whoa, settle down now.’
From the ABA Journal:
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina issued a statement denying the report. “We’ve addressed these rumors before,” he said. “They are nothing more than typical Washington parlor games. It’s disappointing that while we are focused on reviving the economy and fighting two wars, others spend their time pointing fingers in an attempt to promote their own status.”
Tsk, tsk, WSJ’s unnamed sources?
In happier news, Craig believes in lawyer employment! He’s expanded the size of the White House counsel’s office to 41 lawyers; it was 11 lawyers smaller under Bush.
White House Counsel’s Job at Stake [Wall Street Journal]
White House Denies Report that Counsel Greg Craig May Be on His Way Out [ABA Journal]
(21) 
Comments
Comments hidden for your protection. Show them anyway!
Holy fucking firsty!
first to post without profanity.
First to say comment 1 offends me. Please moderate.
Gregory Craig = PE.
Marijuana is the gateway drug -- there should be stronger penalties for first time offenders.
Poop
41 lawyers now? Crickey...
Wait a second. If Gregory Craig detrimentally relied on the White House's guarantee of employment, and incurred damages (relocation, forgoing private sector salary, loss of reputation for being affiliated with a failed administration, etc.), wouldn't he have a promissory estoppel claim against the US gov't? I believe a combined promissory estoppel/FTCA theory would entitle him to money damages.
Say "Greg Craig" five times fast.
Looks like a deliberate insider like to undermine Craig and force him out. Classic Washington scapegoat maneuver.
Spain just indicted cheney for war crimes
I want to have babies.
-Loretta
Lesson learned: Never hire a guy with the names Graig and Craig in the same name.
Another Obama failure
14- he's dealing with his predecessor's failures. Now stfu and spend some time contemplating your own failures in life, you dumb conservative loser.
Nothing like a little malpractice to you get kicked out of the WH counsel's office.
Sorry, but unlike Big Firm law, in gov't law you won't get paid to sit on your hands all day.
16, you are exactly wrong. Was that a guess?
DANIEL MELTZER TO 180!
If Obama keeps issuing signing statements; and if the White House continues to press the state secrets doctrine, continues to hold detainees without trial, and continues to balk on bringing them into the US; then he should be fired.
Wait -- the WSJ story has the exact same "parlor games" quote from the ABA's story. I.e., they knew the WH would deny but still trust in their sources enough to run the story. The way that KH wrote this article, it read differently.
Who will tell Obama which executive orders he's issuing on Gitmo and what they mean if Greg Craig is not there to feed him his statement live on microphone?