UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL
Credibility lost

Gonzales would serve Justice by moving on

April 20, 2007

Having gravely compromised his integrity with a series of incongruent statements, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced an exceptional burden when he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. In order to regain his credibility as the nation's top law enforcement official, Gonzales urgently needed to put to rest the perception that he had been less than truthful about the politically motivated purge of eight U.S. attorneys, including Carol Lam in San Diego.

Did he succeed?

Consider the judgments rendered not by Democratic partisans but by key Republicans:

“Your characterization of your participation is significantly, if not totally, at variance with the facts....(You are) carrying forward this same pattern of not being candid.”
– Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

“The best way to put this behind us is your resignation.”
– Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma.

“Most of this is a stretch. It's clear to me that some of these people just had personality conflicts....(and you) made up reasons to fire them.”
– Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“There are some very serious problems, Mr. attorney general. Your ability to lead the Department of Justice is in question.”
– Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

Gonzales acknowledged only that he “misspoke” at a March 13 press conference in which he said he had not attended meetings or had discussions about the firings. In fact, Justice Department documents show, the attorney general attended an hour-long meeting on Nov. 27 of last year during which he approved an elaborate plan to oust the prosecutors.

In earlier congressional testimony, senior Justice Department officials William Mercer, Michael Battle and Kyle Sampson stated that Gonzales participated in other sessions in which the firings were discussed. Those included a June 2006 meeting to consider whether to dismiss Lam. That session occurred six months before Lam was fired without any warning from her superiors.

Throughout the hearing, Gonzales responded at least 70 times that he could not recall key events, many of which he participated in directly, such as the Nov. 27 meeting to finalize the dismissal plan. He also said he could not remember President Bush's complaining to him about U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in New Mexico. Records show that conversation occurred on Oct. 11, 2006. Iglesias was forced out by Gonzales after Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., complained that Iglesias was not moving quickly enough to prosecute Democratic officials.

Because of his own inconsistent declarations, the attorney general has undermined his standing irreparably. He can cling to his job until January 20, 2009, even though his fitness has been thoroughly undermined. Or he can serve the cause of justice by recognizing this reality and moving on.


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http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20...lz1ed20top.html

Do ya think that Fred Thompson may have gleaned enough experience on "Law and Order" to become the next Bushie AG? What a concept!!!!!!