Did Harriet Miers tell Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) she supports Griswold v. Connecticut, the 1965 case that, in overturning a state law prohibiting contraceptives for married couples, created a constitutional right to privacy?
Emerging from a meeting with Miers, Specter said: ??¢â???¬?????She said she believes there??¢â???¬â???¢s a right to privacy. She said she believes Griswold was rightly decided.??¢â???¬ Later that day, the White House denied it. ??¢â???¬?????My understanding is Sen. Specter is going to correct his statement,??¢â???¬ a White House official told CNN. Well, not exactly. A follow-up statement from Specter??¢â???¬â???¢s office said: ??¢â???¬?????In their meeting this afternoon, Sen. Specter thought Ms. Harriet Miers said she agreed with Griswold v. Connecticut and there was a right to privacy in the Constitution. After Sen. Specter commented on that to the news media, Ms. Miers called him to say that he misunderstood her, and that she had not taken a position on Griswold or the privacy issue. Sen. Specter accepts Ms. Miers??¢â???¬â???¢ statement that he misunderstood what she said.??¢â???¬ At a press conference the next day, Specter said, ??¢â???¬?????I have never walked out of a room and had a disagreement as to what was said,??¢â???¬ adding that ??¢â???¬?????the sooner we get into a hearing room where there??¢â???¬â???¢s a stenographer and a public record, the better off the process is.??¢â???¬
