Presidential adviser Kellyanne Conway said Sunday that the White House doesn’t have many leaks and that communications staff are wrongly suspected of being frequent whisperers to the press.
Conway, a reputedly prolific leaker herself, said “I would argue that” there aren’t many leaks during an appearance on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday. But she also said she believes there is an investigation into recent disclosures.
“I will tell you it doesn’t come from the press and comms shop, of which I am technically not a member,” Conway claimed. “There are hundreds and hundreds of people who work on that complex who folks don’t know but they have access to a lot of information.”
Conway said “a lot of the leaks don’t come from the press and comms department. The president knows that because he sees who’s in different meetings.”
This month, the White House had a shakeup in press operations after reports on a remark about the health of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., from press aide Kelly Sadler. Sadler made the remark during a daily meeting for communications staff, which has now been canceled to limit leaks from press staff.
Conway said she believes there is an investigation into leaking at the White House, but declined to say if anyone had been fired.
“I believe yes there is [an investigation] and not just in the press and comms department,” she said.
Last week, President Trump tweeted: “The so-called leaks coming out of the White House are a massive over exaggeration put out by the Fake News Media in order to make us look as bad as possible. With that being said, leakers are traitors and cowards, and we will find out who they are!”
Conway said that Trump believes “a lot of stuff is made up or embellished,” adding that “the leaks you are talking about from 10 days ago were meant to hurt the people who were involved. People like to settle personal scores by talking to the press, etc. But he also knows those of us with top secret security clearance, those of us privy to information that never gets discussed. He understands the way the game is played.”
Former Washington Post reporter Ronald Kessler declared Conway the White House’s top leaker last month while promoting a book on Trump’s presidency. Conway cast doubt on whether she is a leaker during a Fox News interview Friday morning, and afterwards ignored a shouted question outside the West Wing about whether she is indeed the top leaker.
