July 14, 2009 7:37 AM
- Text
Gonzales Dodges Question On Cheney and CIA
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales deflected questions Tuesday regarding whether he knew anything about former Vice President Dick Cheney's alleged orders to the CIA to keep its counterterrorism program secret from Congress.
"It's very difficult to talk about classified activities in an unclassified setting," Gonzales told CBS' "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith.
"We tried to work as hard as we could with Congress in making sure they understood what was going on," in the executive branch Gonzales said.
On Monday, some members of Congress called for an investigation into the mysterious program, which government officials told AP allegedly sought to kill or capture suspected al Qaeda militants at close range, as opposed to using airstrikes.
Last Month, CIA Director Leon Panetta ended the program upon learning of its existence and its lack of results, and the fact that Congress had been unaware of it since its inception soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to one official with direct knowledge of the plan told AP.
Gonzales' hesitancy to talk may stem from a 2008 Justice Department report that charged he mishandled highly classified and sensitive documents relating to the Bush administration's counterterrorism plans.
He resigned amid controversy in 2007 after holding the attorney general post for more than two years. Prior to being attorney general, Gonzales served as President Bush's White House Counsel.
Questions about the CIA program followed a discussion about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings on "The Early Show."
Gonzales, himself a former Texas State Supreme Court judge, said a good justice is "sensitive" to his or her biases.
"That should be the reality in every case, not an aspiration," Gonzales said.
"It's very difficult to talk about classified activities in an unclassified setting," Gonzales told CBS' "The Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith.
"We tried to work as hard as we could with Congress in making sure they understood what was going on," in the executive branch Gonzales said.
On Monday, some members of Congress called for an investigation into the mysterious program, which government officials told AP allegedly sought to kill or capture suspected al Qaeda militants at close range, as opposed to using airstrikes.
Last Month, CIA Director Leon Panetta ended the program upon learning of its existence and its lack of results, and the fact that Congress had been unaware of it since its inception soon after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to one official with direct knowledge of the plan told AP.
Gonzales' hesitancy to talk may stem from a 2008 Justice Department report that charged he mishandled highly classified and sensitive documents relating to the Bush administration's counterterrorism plans.
He resigned amid controversy in 2007 after holding the attorney general post for more than two years. Prior to being attorney general, Gonzales served as President Bush's White House Counsel.
Questions about the CIA program followed a discussion about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings on "The Early Show."
Gonzales, himself a former Texas State Supreme Court judge, said a good justice is "sensitive" to his or her biases.
"That should be the reality in every case, not an aspiration," Gonzales said.
Popular Now in Politics
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- After Tues. sweep, Santorum seeks to gain speed
- STOCK Act passes in House
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- Obama to announce revamp of birth control policy
- Congressional approval hits another all-time low
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- Romney says his conservatism will shine
- Dems fight back in contraceptive battle
- Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight
- What Does 'GOP' Stand For?
- Is Rick Santorum conservatives' last, best hope?
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- No more Mr. Nice Guy for Santorum
- Santorum's big benefactor
- CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Lions Gate shares rise on upbeat Summit financials
- Whirlpool hails US move on import clothes washers
- Pakistan PM's appeal in contempt case rejected
- Euro falls against dollar on Greek default fears
on Facebook
- Josh Powell had "incestuous" images on his home computer, authorities say
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News
