Schumer Calls For Gonzales's Resignation

Appearing On 'Face The Nation' Schumer Says Gonzales Behaving Like A Lawyer For Bush

(CBS)  The Senate's No. 3 Democrat said Sunday that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign because he is putting politics above the law.

Sen. Charles Schumer's comments come after a week in which the Justice Department found itself on the defensive over the dismissal of U.S. attorneys and the FBI's misuse of a type of subpoena known as national security letters.

Appearing on Face the Nation Schumer said Gonzales repeatedly has shown more allegiance to President Bush than to citizens' legal rights since taking his job in early 2005.

"Attorney General Gonzales is a nice man," Schumer said. "But he either doesn't accept or doesn't understand that he is no longer just the president's lawyer, but has a higher obligation to the rule of law and the Constitution, even when the president should not want it to be so. And so this department has been so political that I think for the sake of the nation, Attorney General Gonzales should step down."

Schumer said that unlike other cabinet officers as attorney general, Gonzales is not obligated to follow the president's orders, but is actually supposed to question them. His ultimate obligation is to the Constitution.

"Attorney General Gonzales in his department has been even more political than his predecessor, Attorney (General) John Ashcroft," Schumer said.

There have also been allegations that some U.S. attorneys were fired by the attorney general because some Republicans felt they weren't doing enough to file corruption charges against the Democrats in their states.

Also appearing on Face the Nation Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Gonzales' resignation was a "question for the president and the attorney general."

"I do think there have been lots of problems," said Specter, who last week suggested that a Gonzales tenure may have run its course. "Before we come to conclusions, I think we need to know more facts."

Specter said Congress should roll back some of the power given to the FBI under the Patriot Act because it has "been very badly abused."

"The only reason it was checked was because when we reauthorized the Patriot Act last year, we inserted the provision for the inspector generals to report it, and that has disclosed these problems," he said. "And I think that the hearings ought to go beyond an analysis of the failures to comply with the law, but very active consideration about withdrawing some of those powers."

Justice spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said the attorney general had made significant strides to protect national security, increase prosecutions of sex offenders and immigration offenses and fight gang violence.

"The attorney general demonstrated decisive leadership by demanding a new level of accountability to address systematic problems in oversight over some of the FBI's national security tools," Roehrkasse said.

On Friday, Gonzales and FBI director Robert Mueller acknowledged the FBI had broken the law to secretly pry out personal information about people in the U.S. as part of its pursuit of suspected terrorists and spies.

The admission came after a blistering 126-page report by the Justice Department's inspector general that found agents improperly obtained telephone records and demanded sensitive data. The information was obtained via security letters, which are special warrants issued without judicial approval.

Under criticism by lawmakers, Gonzales also agreed to tighten the law for replacing U.S. attorneys and to let Congress hear from senior department officials with roles in the ousters.

Several U.S. attorneys allege they were unfairly dismissed without reason after they declined to rush corruption investigations into Democrats before last November's congressional election. Gonzales and other officials have denied the charge.

Over the weekend, Bush pledged an end to the FBI lapses that caused the illegal snooping but expressed confidence in the response by Mueller and Gonzales. Mueller has accepted responsibility, and both have pledged to fix problems.

Mr. Bush said that while the inspector general's report "justly made issue of FBI shortfalls, (it) also made clear that these letters were important to the security of the United States."

On Sunday, Specter and Schumer called the FBI abuses unacceptable. They noted it was Congress that demanded the inspector general review the program even as Justice Department officials were providing assurances the government's surveillance programs were being run responsibly.

In coming hearings by the Judiciary Committee, senators plan to review whether it might be appropriate to scale back some of the government's law enforcement powers in light of the abuses.

"What we found in the Justice Department over and over again is a lack of respect for the rule of law," Schumer said. "There's a view that the executive should be almost without check."

"And that is so wrong," he said. "That's one of the reasons I think we need a change at the top in the Justice Department."

[mcvet]

I agree 110% the Attorney General as well as all those above him need to resign. The President, Vice President AND Attorney General have all failed the people and should resign.

[dallison7]

"I do think there have been lots of problems," said Specter, who last week suggested that a Gonzales tenure may have run its course. "Before we come to conclusions, I think we need to know more facts."

Specter said Congress should roll back some of the power given to the FBI under the Patriot Act because it has "been very badly abused."


NOW, TRY TO PAY ATTENTION ALL YOU RIGHTIES OUT THERE. ARLEN SPECTER IS A 'REPUBLICAN'.

(Now don't you feel silly?)

[skyk-2009]

What's this? This story has been up for a full 5 minutes and some fascist hasn't started telling me what a scum bag the ELECTED Senator from New York is. I can almost tell you what they'll do. They'll pick out something about the state of New York OR someone from the State of New York we can all hate, blame Shumer for it then instruct us all to ignore what he say's. The matter of the Attorney General and the OBVIOUS wrong doing of THAT person? Well they never will address that or simply give you a one line talking point. Yaaaaawn

[david1737]

Neo-Con-Artists

Are frustrated yet again.

Oh no! Accountability!

[scott4261]

I have read in various blogs from conservative posters that Bill Clinton dismissed all U.S Attorneys upon assuming office. Yes, and every president has that perogative. George W. Bush exercised it as well.

Bud Cummins, a Republican U.S. Attorney from my state of Arkansas, who was one of those fired, told Dan Eggen of the Washington Post that he was surprised to find out that a Karl Rove protege was taking his job. This prompted the Justice Department to call him about his interview with the Post. Cummins then crafted an e-mail to his former colleagues, warning that the Justice Department would come after them if they, too, spoke out.

Along with shock, there is rage that Alberto Gonzales, with the White House%u2019s blessing, has tampered with the long-standing tradition of changing U.S. Attorneys only when an administration changes hands, unless a prosecutor engages in misconduct. To my knowledge that is certainly not the case with Cummins.

Of course, U.S. Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. But something tells me that something much more sinister is at play here and it leaves a rotten taste in my mouth!

[starleo146]

It's about time, does anyone remember Mitchell in the Nixon Watergate I tell you the Attorney General Mitchell covered up a lot and this guy albert gonzales is deep in this mud you watch it's coming out slow but sure. WE AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!!!!!THEY are all a disgrace from the top down. The only honest one is Gates I think, could be wrong. Gonzoles squirmed a lot in the last hearing .If this last election did anything they ( DEM.)pulled out all the *** they have been hiding. If the Rep. took over we would never known all this the sneaky crumb bums.

[j-whitman]

Scott,,, I know the law says US Attorny's serve at the plesure of the President, but in this admininstration They serve at the pleasure of the GOP & Karl Rove .... We need to change the law.

[ramos937]

I am a Hispanic and am very truly saddened that Gonzales has failed to put country above party. If he had any political ambitions after 2008, he can forget them.

Also, I remember when President Nixon wanted to fire Special Prosecurtor Cox. The then Atty General was directed to do the deed; he declined and was fired. The the next ranking guy declined and was fired; the process went on until it came to the fourth ranking guy that did the dirty deed and fired Cox. The fired guys were honored for their integrity and honesty. All were Republicans. If Gonzales had behaved as they did, I and other Hispanics would have had someone to be proud of.

[starleo146]

Did you notice the Pres was out of the country who does Karl Rove think he is the Pres.

[j-whitman]

Scott,, Have you seen Bush's "Plan B" for Iraq ??

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17560144

It's mass starvation if Iraq citizens in 2008 -- Bush will exercise his Family Values & cut off thier food rationing -- The entire population relies on food rationing..
- "Plan C" is putting the bodies in ovens.

[scott4261]

Bush has truly gone mad.

[fizzal-2009]

If Shumer an Spector respect the rule of law when are we gona get back back tax,s from paying Easter and Christmass holiday pay after all they teach is that your from a monkey, cumulated interest with a customary fine and they might as well throw in memorial holiday pay because in a vsit to the cemetary not all the veterans got a decoraton on their grave.

[heartlight3]

All along it has appeared to me as if Mr. Gonzales has been tiptoeing along the line between legal and illegal. It's almost as if he will try something that is just over the line just to see if it will fly. If the Congress and the American people notice and make a fuss, he backs off. Often, it seems, he gets by with something because it is wrong, but not actually illegal. It seems that the object of the game for him is to get the Executive branch as much power as he can get away with, whether or not it is constitutional. It is the job of Congress to exercise checks and balances over such calculation. With these last two transgressions; slipping a clause into the Patriot Act allowing him to appoint US attorneys without Congressional approval, and allowing the FBI to overstep the legal boundaries in domestic surveillance, it is obvious he does not respect the rule of law to the extent required of the US Attorney General, and he should go.

I Told You This Will Happen

The issue of overpowering this president came up with the re-establishment of the Patriot Act in 2006. Now that one of the worse case scenarios have unfolded, we have only partisan politics to blame.

In light of the upcoming 2008 elections, we must put faces to who supported this assault to the very checks and balances we need to run our government.

I remember the actual debate associated with trying to make the Patriot Act permanent. At that time, I feared more sinister motives, such as a slow movement toward a dictatorship. Today, my fears still remain, and unless we deal with this deliberate misuse of the laws in question, we have did little to nothing to stop the "drip drip" toward a dictatorship.

Joseph

[johnshaft4]

Resign? Hell, no...The Head Prosecutor, AG Gonzales must be prosecuted for his brazen, criminal conduct.

[joanpz]

The Nov2006 election was BIPARTISAN - we voters, republican & democrats VOTED a LANDSLIDE to RID THE U.S. of the IRAQ WAR & ALSO BRING SANITY and CONSTITUTIONAL LAW BACK TO U.S. - If Bush promises a VETO - Congress should THREATEN *IMPEACHMENT* and THEN THE U.S. WILL "SEE WHO IS BLOWING IN THE WIND"! Don't think that we Voters will have a PROBLEM with THIS ADMINISTRATION THEREAFTER! They will run to the nearest cave!

[jn122736]

I was never aware of or concerned about the process of promoting/appointing federal prosecutors. I guess I simply assumed that, except in the case of the Attorney general, they were career employees promoted from within the department.

Probably because this extent of abuse has not happened in the past we (the general public) failed to take notice.
I would hope that passing legislation to change this would now be a top priority.

[randalds]

No Gonzales should not be allowed to just resign, he should be arrested! He is the consigliere of the Bush crime family and needs to go to prison. This is the as*shole who advised Bush that he was above the law when it came to wiretaps without warrants, that the Geneva Convention was "quaint" and that torture was legal if the president said it was. His only job in this administration has been advising Bush, Cheney and the other as*sholes and criminals in this crime family on how to get around the law, rather then how to enforce. He is a prime example of the absolute worst of what a law degree can mean in the hands of an unscrupulous and totally corrupt person.

[bluestardad]

THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID! WE KNOW THAT

IF CONGRESS DOES NOT PASS THE IRAQ WAR SUPPLIMENTAL BUDGET REQUEST THE IRAQ WAR STOPS!

CONGRESS DO NOT PASS THE WAR SUPPLIMENTAL BUDGET!

CONGRESS FIDDLES WHILE IRAQ BURNS!

Write your Representatives and Senators!

SHOW THEM YOUR DISDAIN OF THEIR COWARDOUS ACTIONS WHILE OUR TROOPS ARE BEING KILLED! http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Here is the House Speakers email address: [e-mail]

We don't need terrorists to destroy America - Bush and his supporters are doing a good enough job of that already.

Goodbye freedom - hello Bush's new order.

scott4261 wrote:

"Bush has truly gone mad."

Wouldn't that imply that he was at one point sane?

[tuckerndfw]

Mr. "Let's torture prisoners, the Constitution is a quaint, outdated document, and let's spy on Americans" Gonzales shouldn't resign. He should be indicted for criminal conspiracy.

[stevex47]

I haven't followed this latest crimimal activity closely. Who in the whitehouse asked Gonzales to break our constitutional rights?

Go to jail. Go directly to jail.

This administration is so close to a failed dictatorship, it's unbelievable.

[johnshaft4]

Other news sites are reporting that Halliburton is moving to Dabui just as a new report is released that Halliburton stole $2.7 Billion of our money.
While Gonzales spies on innocent Americans and crams our prisons fill of petty criminals costing us $28,000 a year, this worthless SOB considers himelf an Amercian and a 'crime fighter'.
How much kick back money is Gonzales getting for looking the other way?

[johnshaft4]

Other news sites are reporting that Halliburton is moving to Dabui just as a new report is released that Halliburton stole $2.7 Billion of our money.
While Gonzales spies on innocent Americans and crams our prisons fill of petty criminals costing us $28,000 a year, this worthless SOB considers himelf an Amercian and a 'crime fighter'.
How much kick back money is Gonzales getting for looking the other way?

[tuckerndfw]

I haven't followed this latest crimimal activity closely. Who in the whitehouse asked Gonzales to break our constitutional rights?

Posted by stevex47 at 05:45 PM : Mar 11, 2007

George Bush referred to the US Constitution as "just a godda**ed piece of paper."

It's obvious his former personal lawyer, Mr. "the Constitution is a quaint, outdated document" Gonzales shares that view.

It is incredible that Congress impeached Bill Clinton for the relatively minor (compared to all of Bush's crimes) offense of perjury, yet continues to ignore the crimes committed by George Bush and his entire administration.

Mueller and Gonzales both confessed to committing crimes, so I do not understand why they have not been indicted. Promising not to break the law in the future is hardly a valid defense against prosecution for committing a crime.

If it was, we could empty all the prisons and close down all criminal courts immediately.

[rohink-2009]

George Soros Buys Halliburton Stock
In a delicious irony, Foreign Policy magazine editor Mike Boyer reports at the magazine's blog FP Passport that SEC documents reveal that George Soros bought 1.9 million shares of Halliburton stock in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Soros gave more than $20 million to "527" organizations in the 2004 election, many of which used anti-Halliburton bashing as a rallying cry for the anti-war Left.

Writes Boyer: (via Boozhy and Andrew Sullivan)
Normally, I'm willing to overlook the hypocrisy of the liberal elite. If Al Gore and his Hollywood cronies want to fly around on gas-guzzling, atmosphere-polluting private jets while railing against global climate change, I'm willing to overlook it.

But the latest move by globe trotting, hyper-liberal billionaire George Soros borders on being too much.... Soros, of course, is the dean of Democratic money giving. And Halliburton, of course, is the company that embodies everything the Democrats see as evil. *** Cheney is its former chief, for goodness' sake.
How can you not laugh at this development? The possibilities for amusement are wonderful...

Update: George Soros' fund, Soros Fund Management LLC, owns the shares.

[zootallures2]

That's right! Get rid of Gonzales and bring in Efraim Halevy...har har hardy har har! How about Charles Schumer goes home and runs for office in Israel and Gonzales goes home and fights for gang leader of Mara Salvatrucha 13?

[tuckerndfw]

What does George Soros have to do with the fact that the Attorney General and Director of the FBI are both admitted criminals who have yet to be indicted or prosecuted?

And who cares what morons overlook?

Anyone who supports George Bush at this point is either a psychopath or brain dead.

[rplat]

I've got a better idea. . . let's demand Schumer's resignation.

[mdc76082]

stevex47, I wouldn't call it a failed dictatorship. F|hrer und Reichskanzler Bush has reigned for 8 long economically costly & deadly war years. I'm sure that when the 2008 elections are stolen once again by the right hand of the nazi republican henchmen, their reign will be the ultimate destruction of our country will continue and most of our civil liberties will be gone. It's just too dam_n bad the middle & lower class republicans don't understand this. Of course the wealthy class of bu_tt kissing republicans will fare the reign of the next F|hrer und Reichskanzler. They always do. You ever notice how during a republican reign how conservative talk radio/tv hosts seem to popup out of the wood work? Henchmen. They are the eyes & ears of the F|hrer. They sure as he_ll ain't gonna make on their own skills because they have none.

[gunownerdan]

The fact is, even though both have taken the same oath to protect and defend our CONSTITUTION, both republicans and democrats often ignore any part of it they want.
BRING BACK THE BILL OF RIGHTS!!!!
"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom."
- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

[bellal-2009]

The President, Vice President AND Attorney General have all failed the people Posted by MCVet at 01:31 PM : Mar 11, 2007

It's a matter of prespective because in my view they have kept America safe from terrorist attacks and tracked terrorists worldwide. That's a success not a failure.

[agnim]

"Schumer Calls For Gonzales's Resignation"

SHUT UP, YOU SPINELESS SCHMUK!

There are more than enough HIGH CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOR TO IMPEACH HIS BOSS!

Show a bit of courage and do the work Americans elected you to do.

Going after these little fries WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING; because they are easily replaced, as Rumsfeld was replace and THE MISMANAGEMENT OF AMERICA CONTINUES!

Dam DO NOTHING CONGRESS! Tsk-tsk

[j-whitman]

Bellal,, What??? How have they kept us safe ????

[j-whitman]

Bellal,,, After 6 years,, Homeland Security is a little more than a wastefull joke -- Terrorism has increased, we have had more terrorism threats, and attacks on American intrests & embassies, than ever,, & Bush is funding radical Sunni Muslems, & underfunding and under supplying our troops.

[randalds]

It's a matter of prespective because in my view they have kept America safe from terrorist attacks and tracked terrorists worldwide. That's a success not a failure.
Posted by bellaL at 08:47 PM : Mar 11, 2007


LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

This administration has been the best recruiting tool for terrorism that bin Laden could hope for. They are manufacturing terrorists as much as if they were paying and training them themselves. the only successes there have been lately have been bin Laden's and al Qaeda. Bush has been a godsend to them!

[j-whitman]

Bellal,,, The attacks in Iraq is by Sunni's & causing 96% of our casualties are by Sunni's... Sunni's are burning Shiite homes in Baghdad, Bin Laden is on the loose, Talliban has grown & so has al Queda, there are now more independent terrorist groups than before 9/11

[j-whitman]

Bellal,,, And just what help has Bush given the brave Iraqi's who have helped our troops ????? None, our State Dept. people in the Green Zone tells them "Well, you should have known you'd be on your own, get lost sucker".

[j-whitman]

Bush asked his cabinet members to come up with a plan,,,, Instead of giving them billions in agriculture support, jobs & reconstruction --- They say, "Cut off thier food rations in 2008" --- FYI.... That will result in massive violence, mass exodus not counting the 2 million who have allready left, & the overthrow of thier government.

[j-whitman]

Bellal,,,, We now have less than 4% of our cargo inspected entering our ports.

[j-whitman]

Gonzales must go,, Our nation doesn't need Law Enforcement or Laws based on politics.

[nyckate]

bella - you are the voter Bush/Cheney and Rudy just love - you are such a scared little pissant you'd rather see them destroy America than actually protect us UNDER the laws and constitution of this country -- you are the greater threat to America - you lost your faith in America and put it in thugs like Bush - and for that there will never be any foregiveness - you are earned your place on the Wall of Shame.

[long_rider]

Gonzales's Resignation is a step in the right direction, but we need to have the Patriot Act done away with. The Patriot act was a mistake from day one, a mistake made by every elected official in DC participated in. A vital act such as the Patroit act, and less than 5 elected officials took the time to read it.

Everyone knows there is no terror threat in America, outside the White house.

[lars2008-2009]

Gozales should absolutely resign. In his oath of office, he swore to protect the Constitution from enemies without and within. Much of what he's done since is attack and undermine the Constitution at the direction of George "It's just a *&^%$ piece of paper" Bush. He has no respect for the rule of law as he believes that Bush should be above it.

[j-whitman]

Lars,,, I'm amazed you don't like Gonzales. He was Bush's lawyer as governor.. Yes, he indeed violates our Constitution, under Bush's direction... Amazing, you are starting to sound a bit progressive for a change. I'm glad to see it.

[lars008-2009]

dnc are like john adams and want to give their lunch money to fascist nazi islam hoping they will leave them alone...

gop are like thomas jefferson and want to use their lunch money to kick fascist nazi islam's arse......

Thomas Jefferson knew about fascist nazi islam..... he killed plenty of them....

In 1786 Jefferson and John Adams went to negotiate with Tripoli's envoy to London, Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdrahaman or (Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja). They asked him by what right he extorted money and took slaves. Jefferson reported to Secretary of State John Jay, and to the Congress:

The ambassador answered us that [the right] was founded on the Laws of the Prophet (Mohammed), that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have answered their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as prisoners, and that every Mussulman who should be slain in battle was sure to go to heaven.[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War
http://www.usvetdsp.com/jan07/jeff_quran.htm
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2007/691/
http://www.earlyamerica.com/review/2002_winter_spring/terrorism.htm

[lars008-2009]

Patrick Henry
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! March 23, 1775

[mikekleber]

Resign??? The entire bunch in Washington need to be indicted. Start with Bush and work your way down until the slime is gone.

[searingtruth]

... President Bush and Vice President Cheney have committed high treason against the United States of America and must be impeached and removed from office according to the rules and laws set forth in our Constitution.

They have claimed that they are no longer subject to the authority of the judicial or legislative branches of our government, and may ignore any law they wish at anytime. They have even claimed that the President may "sign" a law, while simultaneously signing another statement claiming he is free to ignore it. They have established a network of unconstitutional secret prisons, where both foreign and domestic citizens who have been illegally abducted are sent indeterminately, without charge or representation. Some have been tortured, and some have even been murdered. They have single handedly erased our sacred and traditional right to privacy by claiming they may place anyone they wish under surveillance at any time, even going so far as to specifically claim they may ignore FISA laws. They have started an illegal preemptive war that has needlessly taken the lives of more than 3,000 of our bravest and most noble fighting men and women.

And this is just the short list. Never before has America been faced with such an insidious enemy with more contempt for our Constitution and our American way of life, and these enemies occupy the highest levels of our own government. ...

Excerpt from ST's blog

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com