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XXXXX DRUDGE RETORT XXXXX 19:31:06 UTC FRI JAN 7 2000 XXXXX More Swallowing in the White House -- Courtesy of the Chief of Staff!
By Jonathan Bourne It's Washington's worst-kept secret that White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry is a recovering alcoholic, but new information obtained by the DRUDGE RETORT reveals that the monkey on the WH COS's back is much larger -- and sleepier. Wednesday night at 10:00 Eastern Standard Time (9:00 Central and Mountain), the RETORT viewed the super-secret Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman's videotaped testimony about his investigation into whether any White House staffers are drug users. During his deposition, the Deputy Chief of Staff claimed that his investigation [which had been conducted in previous weeks] was initiated as a direct result of the accusation by House Rep. Peter Lillienfield that "1 in 3 White House staffers" were using more than the escalator to get up and down in the West Wing. In the most shocking plot twist, the DRUDGE RETORT got an exclusive look at the classified Secret Service file of the Chief of Staff -- a document which clearly stated that the President's right-hand man had spent 28 days in Sierra Tuscon, a rehab clinic -- for VALIUM addiction. It was at this point that the deputy, ever loyal to his boss -- and fearful that he would perjure himself -- refused to answer any more questions and stormed out in the middle of his testimony. Having viewed the videotaped testimony in its entirety, this reporter can say unquestionably that this was one helluva hostile witness! At one point, Lyman actually grabbed his questioner by the lapels, and subsequently his counsel, Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn threatened to "bust you open like a piñata." So what will become of the Chief of Staff? Will the President pardon these prior pharmaceutical problems? Or will the Chief of Staff be required to resign as a result of his erstwhile opiate offenses? To be continued ... © DRUDGE RETORT 2000 |