Dems say Gonzales’s resignation was long overdue

Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill reacted swiftly Monday to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, calling it long overdue and vowing to continue their investigations of the Justice Department and whether it had been politicized under his tenure.

{mosads}The attorney general has been under intense scrutiny since Democrats took control of Congress and began investigating the firings of several U.S. attorneys and whether they were ousted for improper political reasons. Throughout the probe, Gonzales’s public statements and testimony before Congress, as well as those of his subordinates at the Department of Justice (DoJ), spurred more questions from Democrats and several Republican senators than they answered.

Most recently, Democrats and former DoJ officials have disputed Gonzales’s account of a bedside meeting with his predecessor, John Ashcroft, about a disagreement over the legal basis for the administration’s wiretapping program that occurred while Ashcroft was recovering from surgery and Gonzales was White House counsel. Critics have accused Gonzales of committing perjury in his testimony before Congress on that matter.

“Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said in a statement. “He lacked independence, he lacked judgment, and he lacked the spine to say no to [White House adviser] Karl Rove. This resignation is not the end of the story. Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and follow the facts where they lead, into the White House.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who led the Senate investigation of the Justice Department, said he hopes that Gonzales’s decision “will be a step toward getting to the truth about the level of political influence this White House wields over the Department of Justice and toward reconstituting its leadership so that the American people can renew their faith in its role as our leading law enforcement agency.”

Leahy added that under Gonzales “the Department of Justice suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence.”

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a fierce critic of Gonzales’s tenure at DoJ, said he was doing the right thing by stepping down.

“For the previous six months, the Justice Department has been virtually nonfunctional and desperately needs new leadership,” Schumer said in a statement. “Democrats will not obstruct or impede a nominee who we are confident will put the rule of law above political considerations. We beseech the administration to work with us to nominate someone whom Democrats can support and America can be proud of.”

Gonzales did not address the reasons behind his decision to resign in a public statement made to reporters at the Justice Department Monday morning, saying only that he is “profoundly grateful” to have had a chance to serve his country and the Bush administration in the post, thanking Bush for the opportunity and his DoJ colleagues for their service and commitment.

“It is through their continued work that our country and our communities remain safe, that the rights and civil liberties of our citizens are protected, and the hopes and dreams of all of our children are secured,” he said.

Gonzales said he wanted to remind citizens “that we live in the greatest country in the world and I have lived the American dream.”

“Even my worst days as attorney general have been better than my father’s best days,” he said.

President Bush told reporters that he had accepted Gonzales’s resignation only reluctantly. “After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position and I accept his decision,” Bush said. “It’s sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is [impeded] from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons.”

Bush said he has tapped Solicitor General Paul Clement to serve as acting attorney general when Gonzales leaves in mid-September and until the Senate confirms a nominee. 

“Paul is one of the finest lawyers in America,” Bush said. “As solicitor general, Paul has a representation of fairness and earned the respect and confidence of the entire Justice Department.”

Whoever the Bush administration selects to replace Gonzales will face a tough confirmation process. Leading Democrats already are discussing a long list of credentials they expect in Gonzales’s successor at Justice, the first and foremost being someone who can restore the department’s credibility.

“My hope is that the president will select a new attorney general who will respect the rule of law and abandon partisanship, who will serve the American people and not the president’s political ideology, and who will answer to the Constitution and not political operatives,” said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“It is past time to clean up this mess and restore non-partisan accountability and competence to the Department of Justice,” Clinton stated.

Republicans on Capitol Hill had a mixed reaction to Gonzales’s departure.

“I thank Alberto Gonzales for his public service and wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). “It is my hope that whomever President Bush selects as the next attorney general, he or she is not subjected to the same poisonous partisanship that we’ve sadly grown accustomed to over the past eight months.”

But other Republicans applauded the move.

“Attorney General Gonzales has taken the responsible and appropriate action in resigning,” said Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.). “His resignation is the best thing for the country, Justice Department and the president.”