STATEMENT OF BARBARA COMSTOCK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGARDING THE DECISION IN WALKER V. CHENEY:

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on Feb. 7, 2003. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2003 WWW.USDOJ.GOV OPA (202) 616-2777 TDD (202) 514-1888 WASHINGTON, DC - "The Justice Department is pleased the lawsuit brought by the General Accounting Office (GAO) has concluded. As we've said previously, the decision reached by the court broadly protects and respects the right of the President and the Executive Branch to have an independent decision-making process. Allowing the GAO to sue the Vice President would improperly interfere with the President's ability to formulate the best possible policies for the American people." 03-081

Source: US Department of Justice