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Gonzales Gets Grilling, Vows to Stay
Senators Voice Anger, Express Doubts with AG
By Charlie Salvage
Boston Globe
April 20, 2007
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, fighting for his political survival amid furor over the firing of eight US attorneys last year, faced blistering questions yesterday about his honesty and competence from Democratic and Republican senators.
During a full day of often-heated testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gonzales heard repeated suggestions from lawmakers of both parties that he should consider resigning. But the nation's top law enforcement official insisted he will not step aside.
"I have admitted mistakes in managing this issue, but the department, as a general matter, has not been mismanaged," Gonzales said. "We've done great things, and we will continue to do great things. ... I have to know in my heart that I can continue to be effective as the leader of this department. Sitting here today, I believe that I can."
Few new revelations about the firings emerged from the hearing. Continuing a consistent partisan split, Democrats pressed forward with a theory that the Bush administration fired the US attorneys to punish those who failed to bring cases against Democrats or who were aggressive in bringing charges against Republicans. GOP lawmakers, by contrast, suggested the firings may not have been a good idea, but they were not politically motivated.
Nonetheless, nearly all the Republicans on the 19-member panel joined Democrats in voicing anger about Gonzales's past misstatements about the extent of his role in the firings, and most expressed doubts about his leadership abilities.
Earlier this year, Gonzales said at a press conference that he had had only limited involvement in the firings, but documents released later revealed that he had attended meetings on the subject. And D. Kyle Sampson, Gonzales's former chief of staff, testified in March that he had discussed the firings with Gonzales periodically over a two-year span.
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican on the committee, told Gonzales that his earlier statements were "significantly, if not totally, at variance with the facts" and that he bore a "heavy burden" to "reestablish your credibility." Specter likened the day to a "reconfirmation hearing" that would "determine this committee's judgment as to whether Attorney General Gonzales should continue in that capacity."
And as the hearing unfolded, there was little sign that many Republicans on the committee were willing to put their reputations behind the White House's effort to keep Gonzales in office.
Senator Tom Coburn, Republican of Oklahoma, told Gonzales that he had handled the firings "in a very incompetent manner," that it would be "generous to say that there were 'misstatements"' by the attorney general, and that the reputation of the Justice Department had been "tarnished."
"I believe the best way to put this behind us is your resignation," Coburn said. "Mistakes have consequences."
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, told Gonzales that "you have a tremendous credibility problem with many members of Congress." The senator called Gonzales's assertions that the US attorneys were fired for legitimate performance reasons "a stretch" and suggested that the administration simply "made up reasons to fire them."
"You said something that struck me, that sometimes it just came down to these were not the right people at the right time. If I applied that standard to you, what would you say?" Graham asked.
Graham's question brought applause and jeers from the audience in the hearing room, where many protesters held signs calling upon Gonzales to resign and periodically interrupted the hearing with shouts of "impeach the liar" and other slogans. As Leahy banged his gavel, Gonzales tried to answer.
"Senator, what I would say is, is that I believe that I can continue to be effective as the attorney general of the United States," he said. "We've done some great things in the past few years."
Gonzales's reaction to the harsh questioning varied throughout the day. Sometimes he seemed apologetic, agreeing with senators that the whole affair had been poorly handled. But other times he was combative, insisting that his decision to sign off on the eight firings "is justified and should stand."
Gonzales also told Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, to be "careful" about criticizing the Justice Department.
"When there are attacks against the department, you're attacking the career professionals," Gonzales said.
Gonzales's warning drew a sharp retort from Durbin, who said: "Mr. Gonzales, that is like saying, if I disagree with the president's policy on the war I'm attacking the soldiers."
And Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, told Gonzales that his troubles did not stem entirely from partisan politics surrounding the controversy, but rather genuine and bipartisan skepticism about his leadership.
"There's politics here, but there's some very serious problems," Sessions said. "Your ability to lead the Department of Justice is in question. I wish that were not so, but I think it certainly is."
Senators also expressed skepticism about Gonzales's assertions that he did not remember key conversations. Sessions seemed incredulous when Gonzales testified that he had no memory of a meeting on Nov. 27, 2006, at which the list of US attorneys to be fired was finalized. Gonzales personally attended the meeting, documents and other testimony have shown.
"I guess I'm concerned about your recollection, really, because it's not that long ago," Sessions said. "It was an important issue, and that's troubling to me, I've got to tell you."
Gonzales also said he did not remember anything about meeting with President Bush at the White House on Oct. 11, 2006, at which the two discussed the performance of some US attorneys. Gonzales did not dispute that the meeting took place, saying "I now understand that there was a conversation between myself and the president."
Gonzales has been something of an outsider to the Washington political and legal communities, having spent almost his entire career before the Bush administration in Texas. But he's the consummate insider at the White House, having worked for Bush in various capacities for most of the last decade.
At the White House yesterday, spokeswoman Dana Perino reiterated that Bush had no plans to ask for Gonzales's resignation.
"I think the president has full confidence in the attorney general and whenever that changes for any public servant we'll let you know, and I see no indication of that," Perino said.
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