Gonzales in ‘uphill fight’ to save job
Gonzales in ‘uphill fight’ to save job
By Patti Waldmeir in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: April 15 2007 22:10 | Last updated: April 15 2007 22:10
Alberto Gonzales, the embattled US attorney-general, insisted on Sunday he had done nothing improper to politicise the US Department of Justice. But senior Republicans said he still faced an uphill battle to keep his job.
Mr Gonzales released written testimony for his appearance on Tuesday before the Senate judiciary committee. It is viewed as his last chance to redeem himself in the face of a political scandal over the sacking of eight federal prosecutors.
Democrats in Congress are probing the role of Mr Gonzales and his masters in the White House in what they say was a political purge of the department.
In testimony and in a companion article in the Washington Post, Mr Gonzales apologised to the attorneys involved for “mis-steps that have helped to fuel the controversy”. But “nothing improper occurred”.
“I know that I did not, and would not, ask for a resignation of any individual in order to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain. I also have no basis to believe that anyone involved in this process sought the removal of a US attorney [prosecutor] for an improper reason.”
He denied that he had tried to mislead Congress about the sackings, but acknowledged he had been “less than precise with my words when discussing the resignations”, including when he initially insisted he was not involved in any discussions about replacing the prosecutors.
Senator Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the committee, said he was not convinced and felt Mr Gonzales still had a “steep hill to climb” to convince Congress and the public he should keep his job. He made clear his committee was still seeking testimony from White House officials, including Karl Rove, top aide to President George W. Bush.
By Patti Waldmeir in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: April 15 2007 22:10 | Last updated: April 15 2007 22:10
Alberto Gonzales, the embattled US attorney-general, insisted on Sunday he had done nothing improper to politicise the US Department of Justice. But senior Republicans said he still faced an uphill battle to keep his job.
Mr Gonzales released written testimony for his appearance on Tuesday before the Senate judiciary committee. It is viewed as his last chance to redeem himself in the face of a political scandal over the sacking of eight federal prosecutors.
Democrats in Congress are probing the role of Mr Gonzales and his masters in the White House in what they say was a political purge of the department.
In testimony and in a companion article in the Washington Post, Mr Gonzales apologised to the attorneys involved for “mis-steps that have helped to fuel the controversy”. But “nothing improper occurred”.
“I know that I did not, and would not, ask for a resignation of any individual in order to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain. I also have no basis to believe that anyone involved in this process sought the removal of a US attorney [prosecutor] for an improper reason.”
He denied that he had tried to mislead Congress about the sackings, but acknowledged he had been “less than precise with my words when discussing the resignations”, including when he initially insisted he was not involved in any discussions about replacing the prosecutors.
Senator Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the committee, said he was not convinced and felt Mr Gonzales still had a “steep hill to climb” to convince Congress and the public he should keep his job. He made clear his committee was still seeking testimony from White House officials, including Karl Rove, top aide to President George W. Bush.
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