A promised letter from the Bush administration clarifying testimony last week by Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales seems to be something of a hot potato.

Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, said last night that the Bush administration had "committed" to issuing this letter by noon today.

The letter was to be sent to the offices of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vermont Democrat, and Mr. Specter, the panel's ranking member.

But no letter has yet been released, and there is no clear answer to the question of who is going to issue any such letter.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said during a midday briefing that the Justice Department would be releasing the letter.

But a Justice spokesman said he does not know if any letter is forthcoming.

One White House reporter said Justice was directing calls to the Director of National Intelligence's office, and that they would be issuing the letter to Mr. Leahy's office, but not releasing anything.

A DNI spokesman, however, declined to confirm whether any letter was being issued. All he could confirm is that no such letter had been issued as of mid-afternoon.

-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times