White House Slams NYT for 'Misleading' CIA Story

The Bush administration refuted a New York Times story today that White House lawyers discussed with the CIA whether or not to destroy detainee interrogation videotapes, CNN reports. "The New York Times' inference that there is an effort to mislead in this matter is pernicious and troubling," a White House statement reads; its no-comment stance on the story's underlying facts continued.

The White House also demanded that the paper correct a sub-headline reading, "White House Role Was Wider Than It Said." Sources told the Times that none of the four White House lawyers—including counsel Alberto Gonzales, who later became US Attorney General—told CIA officials to preserve the tapes of suspected terrorists being subjected to harsh interrogation techniques. (More CIA videotapes stories.)