Sestak: When White House Speaks, I’ll Speak

Pennsylvania Democratic Senate Candidate Rep. Joe Sestak responded Thursday afternoon to President Obama’s insistence that a statement on the allegation that Sestak received a job offer from the White House to drop out of the Democratic primary race against Sen. Arlen Specter was on its way.

Sestak praised President Obama’s assertion there would be an official response on the matter. When asked about the matter by Fox News, the president insisted that there would be an explanation, “Shortly. I don’t mean weeks or months…. I can assure the public that nothing improper took place.”

Though he is eager to hear from the White House, Sestak said he would not preempt the executive branch. “I think when the president speaks, or whomever speaks for the White House, we will have something to say,” Sestak offered. He insisted that he did nothing improper.

Though Sestak admitted that he had not seen Obama’s news conference, he keyed in on the president’s use of the word shortly, “in the Navy, shortly means right away,” Sestak said while repeatedly snapping his fingers.

Sestak’s brother Richard, who is running the Senate campaign, received a call from the White House Wednesday to discuss the matter, but Rep. Sestak wouldn't detail that conversation further.

Sestak isn’t the only member of Congress waiting for an explanation from the White House. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has been leading the charge for more details on the allegation, said in a statement that he hopes that the response “will detail what conversations were had with Congressman Sestak.”