MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — Members of President Bush's staff must attend "refresher lectures" in the coming week on ethics and the handling of classified material, White House officials said Saturday.
"Your attendance at one of these sessions is mandatory," said a memorandum to staff members from the White House counsel's office.
The memorandum was released in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, where Bush was attending a summit of Western Hemisphere leaders. It was first reported by The Washington Post.
"The president has made clear his expectation that each member of his Executive Office of the President staff adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of all rules governing ethical conduct for EOP staff," the memorandum said.
It said that the classes were required for those staff members who "possess a security clearance of any level," which White House officials said amounted to at least 400 people.