Summary and
Background
On May 24, 2007, Senator Schumer
introduced S. J. Res. 14, a joint resolution expressing the sense of
the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer holds the
confidence of the Senate and of the American people. The joint resolution has
28 original co-sponsors, including Majority Leader Reid, Assistant
Majority Leader Durbin, and Senators Akaka, Biden, Bingaman,
Boxer, Brown, Byrd, Casey, Clinton, Conrad,
Dodd, Dorgan, Durbin, Feinstein, Harkin, Inouye,
Kennedy, Kerry, Klobuchar, Levin, Menendez, Murray,
Nelson (FL), Obama, Sanders, Stabenow, and Webb.
Senator Lautenberg has also joined as a sponsor.
Attorney General Gonzales
has been heavily criticized by Senators and Representatives of both parties, as
well as members of the legal community and former staff at the Department of
Justice, for his role in the firing of United States Attorneys in December 2006
for alleged political reasons. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has held
five oversight hearings on the matter, and related matters, entitled
“Preserving Prosecutorial Independence.” The House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary has also held several hearings on the matter and
related matters.
Other serious concerns about
Attorney General Gonzales include his role in 1) the misuse of National
Security Letters by the Federal Bureau Investigation; 2) allowing the National
Security Agency to violate the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in
conducting domestic warrantless wiretapping; 3) politicizing the hiring of
career attorneys in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice; and
4) developing the legal framework for the use of torture and the creation of military
commissions.
A roll call vote on the
motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S. J. Res. 14 has
been scheduled for June 11.
Major Provisions
S. J. Res. 14 would express
the sense of the Senate that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales no longer holds
the confidence of the Senate and of the American people.
Legislative History
S. J. Res. 14 was placed on the
Senate legislative calendar on May 25. A motion to proceed to consideration of
the joint resolution was offered on June 6, but the motion was withdrawn that same
day. A motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the resolution was
also filed on May 6. The Senate has scheduled a roll call vote on the cloture
motion for June 11.
As
a joint resolution, S. J. Res. 14 would also have to be approved by the
House of Representatives and presented to the President.
Statement of Administration Policy
As
of this writing, the Administration has not issued a Statement of
Administration Policy on S. J. Res. 14. President Bush, however, has
repeatedly reiterated his support for Attorney General Gonzales, and has
stated, “[Congress] can have their votes of no-confidence but it's not going to
make the determination about who serves in my government.” (AP, 06/11/07)
