Snowdon is a dummy

Earnest admits that the White House was given a "heads up" over Miranda's detention yesterday.

"We had an indication it was likely to occur but it's not something we requested," he says.

Pressed further, he says the US was told Miranda would be detained before he arrived at Heathrow airport in London. Earnest refuses to say whether Miranda was on a terror watch-list either in Britain or in the US.

He would not comment on whether the US discouraged the UK from holding Miranda before his detention.

I've just transcribed Earnest's remarks when he was pressed to define the nature of the 'heads up' the US was given re David Miranda being detained. Asked if the 'heads up' was given before Miranda was stopped, Earnest said:

"It probably wouldn't be a heads up if they had told us about it after the detainment."

A reporter then asked: "So it's fair to say say they told you they were going to do this when they saw that he was on the manifest?"

"I think that is an accurate interpretation of what a heads up is," Earnest said.

CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin then quizzed Earnest as to whether the US obtained information from the electronic equipment seized by the US government:

"I'm just not in a position to talk to you about the conversations between British law enforcement officials and American law enforcement officials," Earnest said.

Yellin followed up: "But you can't rule out that the US has obtained this material."

"I'm not in a position to do that right now," Earnest said.

NN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin then quizzed Earnest as to whether the US obtained information from the electronic equipment seized by the US government:

A little embarrassed but thank you both. My position has evolved a little in this particular debate, but not because I have wanted it to.

Summary: US given 'heads up' before Miranda detention
Here's what we know after that White House press briefing:

• The US was given a "heads up" before David Miranda, partner of the Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, was detained in London. ... ...
• The White House said it did not give the order for Miranda to be detained, but nevertheless was kept aware of developments. ... ...
• Earnest would not deny that the US had obtained access to Miranda's electronic material. ... ...