Jay Carney, Eric Holder Endure Grillings Over AP Records Scandal

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and Attorney General Eric Holder were grilled by journalists over the revelation that the Department of Justice secretly obtained the phone records of the Associated Press.

"On the issue of what is a Department of Justice investigation, as I understand it, the president is a strong defender of the First Amendment and a firm believer in the need for the press to be unfettered in its ability to conduct investigative reporting and facilitate the free flow of information. He also, of course, recognizes the need for the Justice Department to investigate alleged criminal activity without undo influence," said Carney.

Carney provided little information beyond that. "As I said yesterday, we have no knowledge other than press reports of any attempt by the Justice Department to seek phone numbers of the Associated Press," he said.

Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that he had recused himself from the decision to seize the Associated Press' phone records.