This is good news for the Tillman family. I can understand why in some cases the White House doesn’t want to turn over information to the Congress because any little discrepancies would be turned against them. I’m glad that they are at least granting interviews, in this case.

The White House has offered to let congressional investigators interview three former officials in an inquiry into what the administration knew about the friendly-fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman.

The aides are Dan Bartlett, former White House counselor; Scott McClellan, former press secretary; and Michael Gerson, former speechwriter. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee agreed to White House demands that initial interviews be conducted without a transcript and with White House attorneys present.

If investigators determine the aides have relevant information, they would be asked to return for transcribed interviews. The White House has reserved the right to oppose that by claiming executive privilege, according to a letter Thursday from the committee’s chairman and top Republican to White House counsel Fred Fielding.

A White House official confirmed the offer late Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because a final agreement has not yet been reached formally. “The White House made a proposal to the committee that would permit them to talk to the individuals they’ve identified in connection with the Tillman matter,” the official said.

Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., has been aiming to determine when and how the White House learned that Tillman’s April 22, 2004, death was by friendly fire, not at the hands of the enemy as the military claimed for five weeks.

A hearing Waxman presided over Wednesday shed little light as former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and several of his top generals denied any cover-up, rejected personal responsibility and could recall little about how and when they learned of Tillman’s death. Tillman family members say they believe officials at the highest levels of government hid facts to limit public-relations damage.

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