Rep. Nadler Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Gonzales

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today issued the following statement regarding the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:

"The resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales does not absolve the Bush Administration of its various abuses of power. I have long called for the Attorney General to resign, but with the full understanding that he must not become the sacrificial lamb of this White House. Mr. Gonzales is but one actor in the Administration’s ongoing campaign to evade, ignore and undermine the Constitution.

"I urge the President to nominate an Attorney General who has a fundamental respect for the rule of law and the oversight responsibilities of Congress. The person entrusted with enforcing our nation’s laws must also abide by them – a duty that Mr. Gonzales apparently failed. Normally, a resignation of this magnitude would serve to restore the nation’s confidence in a Department that has become riddled with scandal, however, in this case I believe the problems with this Administration’s handling of the Department of Justice go well beyond Mr. Gonzales and rest firmly with President Bush.

"A Special Prosecutor must still be appointed to investigate the Attorney General’s false statements to Congress and to investigate the apparent criminal violations of law by Attorney General Gonzales and others, including President Bush, by initiating the National Security Agency’s warrantless wiretapping program."

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