From Holden:

Scottie was expecting the first question in today’s gaggle to focus on the alleged pedophile at the Department of Homeland Security.

Q What does the President think of the Massachusetts bill on health care?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, this is the Department of Homeland — I’m sorry, the Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has actually been in close contact with Governor Romney and the state of Massachusetts as they’ve been moving forward on this legislation…

Four questions later…

Q Any reaction to the DHS arrest?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it is a very serious matter. I know the Department of Homeland Security has said that they will cooperate fully with the investigation. The individual who was arrested is someone who is a civil servant. My understanding is that the Department of Homeland Security has placed that individual on administrative leave. But these are very serious allegations.

Q Any repercussions, maybe a change in the strategy for hiring, or monitoring people? Anything like that? Do you foresee anything changing in the future for somebody like this?

MR. McCLELLAN: For something like this?

Q For somebody in a situation like this, to avoid it, when people are hired, work for the government — do you foresee any changes that — maybe background checks that are more thorough, or — how could something of this nature happen, do you think?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, these are very serious allegations, and I think the Department of Homeland Security recognizes that, and that’s why they placed this individual on administrative leave, and they will cooperate fully with the investigation as it moves forward. But I don’t — I’m sorry?

Jeebus, Scottie is really caught staring into the oncoming headlights on this one, Michael Wolff’s Vanity Fair piece is SPOT ON.