Legal News

Is Greg Craig on His Way Out?

By Ashby Jones

That’s the question asked in so many words this morning by WSJ reporter Evan Perez, who reports that Obama administration officials are holding discussions that could result in the White House counsel leaving his post. Click here for the story.

The issue, it seems, has to do with Craig’s management of several national-security issues that were once seen as popular, but have since become political liabilities for Obama. These include the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, the release of Bush administration-era national-security documents, and efforts to find legal ways to indefinitely hold some detainees who can’t be put on trial.

The decision to close the Guantanamo facility became a political problem for Mr. Obama when concerns arose that some of the detainees would be released into the U.S. and the public soured on the move.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), one of the administration’s allies on the Guantanamo closure, faulted the White House handling of Guantanamo. “Announcing the closure without a plan has put in jeopardy the ability to close Guantanamo. Now public opinion has turned,” Graham said Monday.

Officials also cite an internal dustup concerning whether to release Justice Department memorandums detailing the Bush administration’s policies on terrorism detainees. Craig and Attorney General Eric Holder won the fight to release the memorandums, with minimal redactions, but the White House had to move quickly to limit political damage. Former Vice President Dick Cheney sharpened criticism of Obama during a televised speech that followed Obama’s own address intended to explain his national-security vision.

Craig didn’t respond to the WSJ’s request for comment.

The people familiar with the matter said a final decision hasn’t been made. But in a statement, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina said: “We’ve addressed these rumors before. 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.”

Were Craig, 64, shown the door, he’d likely have a seat waiting for him at his old law firm, Williams & Connolly, where he served as a partner before joining the Obama campaign.

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on August 04, 2009 (boomark / email).