Does Anyone Know Who Richard Painter is?

For some reason, the press brought up Richard Painter [if he is this person, who said this, why is he mentinoed in the press briefing?] as a person that would be good to speak with. Any idea who he is and why Scotty would say whatever he would have to say would be classified and therefore not accessible?

Q Scott, who would be the highest ranking staffer whose attendance is required at these briefings?

MR. McCLELLAN: Assistants to the President.

Q Would the Chief of Staff --

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.

Q -- go?

MR. McCLELLAN: He's an assistant to the President.

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: He participated in the meeting this morning, absolutely. In fact, I think a number of assistants to the President participated in the first meeting, even though it was for A through B. And I think C through D was later, and E and F later, and then more over the next couple of days.

Q So they cut one?

MR. McCLELLAN: But all the assistants to the President were ones --

Q Would you make Richard Painter available to us?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?

Q Would you make Richard Painter available to us?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, he's conducting these briefings for staff. This is relating to classified information, so you can understand the nature of the briefings, and I don't think you have security clearance.

Q But he could tell us what the guidelines are for what people are --

Q He's not talking about classified information in the briefing.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we'll be glad to provide you public information that's on general information guidelines. But information related to classified security briefings, some of that information, by nature, is involved just for people with security clearances. And I'm not aware that you have one at this point.

Q He's not talking about classified information in the briefing.

Q He's talking about the guidelines.

Q He's talking about guidelines.

MR. McCLELLAN: No, it involves talking about classified matters -- Bill, you're wrong.

Go ahead.