Monica Goodling Resigns From Justice Department

Monica Goodling, a senior advisor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the Justice Department's liaison to the White House, has resigned from DOJ.

Goodling has declined to answer any questions about her role in the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys last year, and she has told both the House and Senate Judiciary committees that she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself if called to testify on the matter.

Goodling becomes the second senior DOJ aide to leave the department in recent weeks. Kyle Sampson, Gonzales' chief of staff, also resigned, and then testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on his role in the scandal. Michael Elston, chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, has gone on personal leave as well.

The Justice Department does not have any official statement yet on Goodling's resignation.

Goodling sent a short letter to Gonzales tendering her resignation. "May God bless you richly as you continue your service to America," Goodling wrote, CNN reported.

Goodling's attorney, John Dowd, had no comment on his client's desicion to leave Justice.

Gonzales, who is facing calls from lawmakers from both parties to step down, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17 about the prosecutor purge.