It was Rumsfeld's first public appearance on Capitol Hill since President Bush replaced him with Robert M. Gates late last year. He reiterated previous testimony to investigators that he did not have early knowledge that Tillman was cut down on April 22, 2004, by fellow Rangers -- not by enemy militia, as was initially claimed.
The truth was kept from the public and Tillman's family for weeks, until May 29, 2004. Tillman's mother, Mary, his brother, Kevin, and other family members watched silently from the back row at yesterday's hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Afterward they left without commenting.
Retired General Richard Myers, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that he learned of the likelihood of friendly fire toward the end of April 2004, not long after Tillman's death on April 22, but that it wasn't his responsibility to inform the White House or the Tillman family.
"I don't think there's any regulation that would require me to do anything," said Myers. He blamed the Army. "This is the responsibility of the United States Army, not of the office of the chairman, so I regret that the Army did not do their duty here and follow their own policy," Myers said.
Rumsfeld and Myers both said they could not remember precisely how or when they learned of Tillman's death or that it might be friendly fire. Rumsfeld said he did not recall discussing the Tillman issue with the White House until the fratricide became public.
At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow said the administration stands by Rumsfeld's comment that there was no coverup of how Tillman died. "I'm certainly not going to contradict Secretary Rumsfeld," Snow said.
"It is deeply regrettable that this sort of thing happened, and you try to make sure that it doesn't happen at any time," he added.
Tillman's death received worldwide attention because he had walked away from a huge contract with the National Football League's Arizona Cardinals to enlist in the Army after Sept. 11, 2001.
