I posted a bit of an update on the story in the Interim Song Challenge! thread. Ashcroft now denies authorizing the drape or knowing about it, but it was his highest ranking staffer who is taking the credit/blame for doing it all on her own. Hard to imagine, though, some aide or even the White House Chief of Staff covering up the portraits of the presidents without permission from the Chief Executive. At any rate, the drapes CAN be opened, so if Ashcroft doesn't concur with his staffer's move, he COULD leave them open at his next conference. Whaddya wanna bet he doesn't?