Reply #97: More from the McClellan press meeting about the timing of the resignation:

[Dover]

http://www.talkradionews.com/news/article.php?articleID=223

Q Is there any connection between this resignation and the President consulting a lawyer in the CIA investigation?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. This was a decision made by Director Tenet for personal reasons, and I would not connect it to anything else. Like I said, I understand there is going to be a lot of speculation and that's why I came back here to let you know what exactly occurred. And the President also made it very clear in his remarks how sorry he was to see him leave.

Q What about a connection to Chalabi?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. I just said in answer to Scott's question, that I understand there is going to be a lot of speculation. I would not make a connection to anything else, other than this was a decision made by Director Tenet for personal reasons.

Q Was there any concern about the timing of this announcement, when they had their discussion about when the announcement would be made? I mean, the President is going over to Europe and there's a possibility that this could overshadow some of the themes that he wants to emphasize.

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, I don't think that anyone was looking at it in that context. Director Tenet made the decision that he wanted to meet with the President last night and inform him about his decision, and that's what the timing was based on. I wouldn't look at it in connection with anything else.