Sestak Memo Only Raises More Questions

Hans von Spakovsky / May 28, 2010

Robert Bauer, the White House Counsel, has released a two-page memorandum in response to the controversy involving Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) and the promise by President Obama at his news conference yesterday that there would be “an official response shortly” from the White House. The administration has been stalling for months about giving a full explanation of what happened and who was involved in potentially violating federal law ever since Sestak first claimed he had been offered a position in the administration in exchange for withdrawing his primary challenge to Senator Arlen Specter. The facts recited in the memorandum do not let the White House off the hook, even if the White House claims otherwise,

Bauer’s memorandum denies that Sestak was offered a position as Secretary of the Navy. What supposedly was offered was “service on a Presidential or other Senior Executive Branch Advisory Board, which would avoid a divisive Senate primary, allow him to retain his seat in the House, and provide him with an opportunity for additional service to the public in a high-level advisory capacity.” (Sestak originally said he was offered a “job,” not an advisory position). (more…)