President Barack Obama told reporters on Thursday that his administration would respond “shortly” to charges about an individual in his administration offering Rep. Joseph Sestak, Pennsylvania Democrat, a job in exchange for dropping out of his primary race against Senator Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Democrat.
Mr. Sestak could barely enjoy his victory lap following the Democratic Senatorial primary last week. His primary win over Mr. Specter, Pennsylvania Democrat, only lasted long enough before questions from both Republicans and Democrats began emerging about Congressman’s Sestak’s past contention to a Philadelphia radio show that the White House offered him a job if he would drop out of his Primary against Mr. Specter.
Two days before his primary win, Mr. Sestak stood in front of a Philadelphia church he had just spoken to and took questions from reporters. I asked Mr. Sestak about the alleged White House job offer and the inquiry Representative Darrell Issa, California Republican and ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is putting forth about it. Mr. Sestak would only confirm what he had previously said on the radio, while dismissing Mr. Issa’s inquiry of the matter.
I spoke with Mr. Issa on Tuesday who told me, “He [Mr. Sestak] is very careful not to lie, but he is very careful not to tell the whole truth, but the whole truth is if you are a Naval officer, an Army officer, or a member of Congress is to disclose what you know, if what you know is wrongful activity.” The issue is not going away anytime soon and media continues to ask questions about it.
“This is like Watergate. It’s the press relentlessly wanting to get an acceptable answer and not a ‘we think its legal,’” Mr. Issa said.
Seven GOP Senators have sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the alleged White House job offer issue. Rep. Issa, had been calling on Mr. Holder repeatedly to investigate if a felony had been committed.
Democrats are also demanding answers. Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Democrat , told the Politico that Mr. Sestak needs to explain the job offer, “At some point, I think Congressman Sestak needs to make it clear what happened,” he said.
Congressman Anthony Weiner, New York Democrat, told MSNBC “I think what the White House should do is, to some degree, say, ‘Here are the facts.’”
Such a pile on can only produce answers. The question, however, remains if the response will be acceptable. Stay tuned.
