McNulty Can't Say If He's Staying

Is Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty looking for a new job? Yes, said the Wall Street Journal yesterday, citing "people familiar" with his plans. McNulty himself was a bit more sanguine, telling the Journal he was "fully focused on doing my job and haven't given much thought to what comes next."

McNulty chose not to knock the story down today. During a brief interview with Legal Times following a speech to a legal panel about the Thompson Memo and corporate fraud, McNulty was asked if he was looking for a new job. McNulty responded, after a pause: "I can't answer that."

Asked if he was intending to stay at Justice for the final 21 months of the Bush Administration, the department's No. 2 said with a smile: "I think I better limit my comments to the Thompson Memo."