Gonzales (finally) calls it quits
From the New York Times:
WACO, Tex., Aug. 27 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. He is expected to announce the decision to reporters at 10:30 Eastern time this morning in Washington.
Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation for months, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, a senior administration official said.
Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said early this morning, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public.
Mr. Bush repeatedly stood by Mr. Gonzales, an old friend and colleague from Texas, even as Mr. Gonzales faced increasing scrutiny for his leadership of the Justice Department, over issues including his role in the dismissals of nine United States attorneys late last year and whether he testified truthfully about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs.
From Congressman Langevin:
“When I traveled the District this summer, my constituents told me — loud and clear — that they are fed up with the President and his policies – in particular those policies implemented by the nation’s top law enforcement officer. This resignation is the right thing for Attorney General Gonzales to do, as the public’s confidence in him has been severely compromised. The position of Attorney General is too critical to suffer from lack of credibility. I look forward to the President nominating a professional who can get us past this dark chapter for the Justice Department.”
From Congressman Kennedy:
“For months, it has been clear that AG Gonzales is unwilling and incapable of solving the serious problems facing the Department of Justice. While his resignation is overdue, I hope that it will mark an end to this painful chapter in the proud history of the Department.
There are serious problems at the Department of Justice, and we cannot afford to let them fester any longer. I urge President Bush to nominate an individual who will be able to work with Congress in the honest and open fashion that eluded AG Gonzales.”
From Senator Whitehouse:
“It’s been clear for months that Alberto Gonzales’s resignation is in the best interest of the country. This is also good news for the Department of Justice, but a great deal of work remains to be done to restore Americans’ confidence in this great Department, to restore its traditions and spirit, and to restore its ability to fairly and dispassionately enforce the law. Fortunately, there are many people of both parties who know and love this Department who I’m sure would be glad to help.
“I hope that whoever the President nominates to be he new Attorney General at this critical time will put the interests of the Department, its employees, and the American people foremost – before partisanship, and before politics.”
August 27th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Well the doctor of death is out and the President is going to nominate his dimwitted protege!
With W.’s anticipated nomination of Chertoff, I certainly hope the Senate Judiciary Committee asks him about that little storm they had down south! Establishing a legal framework for the US to BTK enemy combatabts in secret prisions, and greenilighting the most invasive breach of our Constituional rights in my lifetime is one thing. But Chertoff scares me even more cuase he just looks the other way while people die by the thousands!
How many people can one Adminstration disavow, disappear, and dismember!?
August 27th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out, Gonzo!