White House Denies Report that Counsel Greg Craig May Be on His Way Out

The White House is denying a report that White House counsel Greg Craig may leave his government post.

Unnamed sources told the Wall Street Journal that administration officials are having discussions that could result in Craig leaving the job. He is under fire for failing to manage the controversy stemming from his handling of national security matters, such as the closing of the Guantanamo prison and the release of Justice Department memorandums on the treatment of terrorism suspects.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina issued a statement denying the report. "We've addressed these rumors before,” he said. “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."

Craig formerly worked at Williams & Connolly and defended Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings. The White House counsel’s office has grown under his short tenure from about 30 lawyers to 41 lawyers, the Wall Street Journal story says.