WH on Hagel withdrawal: nope; governors descend on D.C.; and a CIA whistleblower parties on way to the clink (read-this roundup) Posted at 10:13 AM ET, 02/22/2013 Former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel remains the nominee for defense secretary. (Susan Walsh - AP) Here's what the Loop is reading Friday: Pen pals - A group of 15 Republican senators wrote to President Obama asking him to withdraw the nomination of former Nebraska senator Chuck Hagel (R) to be secretary of defense. The White House response: Um, no thanks. Look out for the govs - The National Governors Association is meeting in Washington this weekend. They'll be all over the weekend shows... and perhaps the city's dining and drinking establishments? Fancy send-off - A CIA whistleblower sentenced to prison for revealing information about waterboarding of detainees throws a glitzy party at the Hay-Adams on his way to the clink. Cabinet alum emerges - Former Bush Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez will resign from Citigroup to work full-time on immigration reform.