#shorts On 1/19/2023, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre squabbled with NBC News correspondent Peter Alexander over her repeated dodges against questions regarding limited details and transparency on the ongoing investigation into President Biden mishandling classified documents. Jean-Pierre repeatedly referred many journalists’ questions to the Justice Department, claiming that they are referred to for every legal matter. However, Alexander pointed out that there is no legal issue with the White House itself commenting, “MS. Jean-Pierre: So, my colleague actually dealt with this question on the call yesterday — from the White House Counsel’s Office.
Reporter: And he made — he made the same point about —
MS. Jean-Pierre: As you —
Reporter: — the risk of incompletion.
MS. Jean-Pierre: As you — and I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office.
Reporter: Then may I make — then is the White House having any conversations internally about finding someone, much the same way that John Kirby has spoken on behalf of national security issues at this podium, as your colleague, as their representative? Is there someone — is the White House in talks right now to find someone either outside the White House or internally who can speak on behalf of the White House representing the Special Counsel Office within the White House from this podium? Are any of —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I would —
Reporter: — those talks in —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office.
Reporter: Well, but you’re the communications —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I — I would —
Reporter: You run the communications —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I — I —
Reporter: — so I’m asking, are you, as a communications matter, having —
MS. Jean-Pierre: We —
Reporter: — playing any part?
MS. Jean-Pierre: There is — you —
Reporter: Are those conversations existing?
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter, you have spoken to my colleague who did —
Reporter: Yeah.
MS. Jean-Pierre: — again, a 45-minute call with all of you, answering questions about —
Reporter: But on ba- — as you would acknowledge, it’s on background though, Karine, not on the record until the call ends. That means the American people can’t see it in public. So we’re asking —
MS. Jean-Pierre: But many —
Reporter: — will there be a representative who would speak on camera and see it in public?
MS. Jean-Pierre: But — but his — the call was indeed — he was quoted. It was in papers. It was on networks.
Reporter: Correct. But because they can’t witness it happening live, Americans don’t get the same transparency into this back-and-forth. I’m asking —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I think —
Reporter: — would someone —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I think —
Reporter: Is the White House having a conversation —
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter —
Reporter: — with regard —
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter —
Reporter: This is just — with respect, you guys brought John Kirby in. I’m asking if that conversation exists.
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter, the fact that he spoke to all of you reporters who report on this, and then you all reported on it back to the American people, I believe that is transparency. I believe that he shared information. He answered your questions that you believe that the American people wanted to hear. And he answered those questions.
Reporter: I understand that. So my question is, are you —
MS. Jean-Pierre: And he took — he took 45 minutes to do that.
Reporter: For which we’re grateful.
MS. Jean-Pierre: Anything — anything else that you have on this, Peter, I would refer you to the White House Counsel’s Office. Peter, I’m not —
Reporter: I just want to be clear —
MS. Jean-Pierre: We just went back —
Reporter: Are you having —
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter —
Reporter: So just — the question is: Are you having a conversation about adding a member —
MS. Jean-Pierre: I — Peter —
Reporter: — to the staff to speak publicly on this?
MS. Jean-Pierre: Peter — Peter, I just —
Reporter: That’s — it’s a yes or no. You can just say “no.”
MS. Jean-Pierre: I actually just answered that question. I said we have someone currently — right?
Reporter: So that means “no.”
MS. Jean-Pierre: We have someone currently who answered your questions for 45 minutes on a call —
Reporter: He did.
MS. Jean-Pierre: — and took your questions.
Reporter: Yes.
MS. Jean-Pierre: — took your questions about this particular issue.
Reporter: Correct.
MS. Jean-Pierre: He will continue to do that. He will continue to engage with all of you — right? — on this issue, on this legal process that’s currently happening from the White House Counsel’s Office.
After that, Peter, I don’t have anything else to share.
other clips of this published longer video is here: https://youtu.be/4GMM42L293E
Q: No transparency for public, why not speak on camera and see it in public?