Day 2 Of Aragoncillo Story

The Aragoncillo "spy in the White House" story broke yesterday, but today's the day to watch. Since Drudge and ABC broke the story, it's being refuted by the NYT and about a zillion others who point out the spying occured two years after Mr. A. left his White House detail.

Radioblogger has an exceptionally detailed report if you need to catch up on this story.

In a story with today's dateline, ABC is not clarifying or admitting any overbounding. The lead says:

The discovery that a former White House staff member allegedly used his top secret clearance to steal classified intelligence documents indicates there are serious gaps in high-level White House security, a former White House counterterrorism expert says.

That expert, of course, is Bush-baiter Dick Clark. The lead sticks to the White House angle, although it does back off subtly from yesterday's story:

Both the FBI and CIA are calling it the first case of espionage in the White House in modern history. Officials tell ABC News the alleged spy worked undetected at the White House for almost three years. Leandro Aragoncillo, 46, was a U.S. Marine most recently assigned to the staff of Vice President Dick Cheney.

Today's story say in paragraph four that Aragoncillo worked "undetected" in the White House for three years, but doesn't make a big deal of the fact that he was hired -- and vetted -- by the Clinton administration. It finally admits in paragraph six that the charges relate to espionage conducted last year 200 miles from the White House.

That's hardly a frank admission of where the story stands today. It is,however, a fine example of the Moonves/Mapes/Rather approach to admitting error.

Update: Belmont has a great round-up and analysis.