Gonzales Gave 2 Aides Firing Power

Attorney General's Staffers Could Hire Or Fire About 135 Political Appointees

(AP)  U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales gave two top aides authority to hire and fire political appointees other than U.S. attorneys, according to a Justice Department order obtained by The Associated Press.

The March 2006 order gave Gonzales' then-Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson and later White House liaison Monica Goodling authority to hire and fire about 135 politically appointed Justice Department employees who did not require Senate confirmation.

When Gonzales issued the order, top Justice Department officials were well into the process of determining which U.S. attorneys to fire. A month later, Goodling became White House liaison. The list eventually was narrowed to eight U.S. attorneys, and their dismissals began in December.

The uproar that ensued spawned congressional and internal Justice Department investigations, claimed Sampson's and Goodling's jobs and imperiled Gonzales' position.

Labeled "Internal Order," the document bestowed "the authority, with the approval of the attorney general, to take final action in matters pertaining to the appointment, employment, pay separation and general administration" of non-civil service employees of the Justice Department.

Such employees include deputy assistant attorneys general and press aides. U.S. attorneys, who serve as the top federal prosecutors in their state districts, normally require Senate confirmation and would not be covered by the order.

The order was first reported Monday by National Journal.

Democrats pounced on news of the order, complaining that it had not been turned over to them among thousands of other documents released by the department about the firings.

"The mass firing of U.S. attorneys appeared to be part of a systematic scheme to inject political influence into the hiring and firing decisions of key Justice employees," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. "This secret order would seem to be evidence of an effort to hardwire control over law enforcement by White House political operatives."

"This revelation shows that the Attorney General was prepared to engage in an extraordinary delegation of power to two young and unaccountable staffers who may have taken their marching orders directly from the White House," said Senator Chuck Schumer.

But the Justice Department said Gonzales never relinquished authority over hiring and firing decisions. In addition, political appointees — "non-career employees" — are just that: they serve at the pleasure of the president and can be fired for any reason.

"This order simply gives the chief of staff and the White House liaison the authority to execute certain decisions related to the hiring and termination of some non-career employees with, as the memo states, the approval of the attorney general," Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said.

During a Senate hearing April 17, Gonzales repeatedly said he did not recall details of how those firings were carried out, making a point to emphasize that he delegated many of the details to his staff — notably Sampson and Goodling.

Democrats have accused the two of using ideology to decide which U.S. attorneys to fire, pointing to Sampson and Goodling's frequent consultations with former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and presidential counselor Karl Rove.

[xfredmenzies]

Dear Alberto -

I knew you were a bumbling idiot. The torture memo proved it. But at least you could lie with a straight face before the confirmation hearings.

Now it looks like you were a bigger idiot than anyone ever thought, leaving behind a paper trail that provides specific details on how you used your "authority" to delegate your office over to political underlings who were blatantly unaccountable to the Federal government.

That was incredibly stupid.

Pack your bags, Al. These days we send those guilty of treason to Guantanimo.

[j0hnwi11iams]

Where did it all go wrong, Alberto? When you forgot about the constitution, or when you forgot the meeting when it was burned? Now you just wish the American people would forget about you. You better forget about being attorney general.

[adian1-2009]

Gonzales delegated the power to hire and fire to Goodling? Without guidelines or rules about the excercise of such power? To the one that have plead the 5th? To the two that have already resigned because of the Senate investigation into the matter of the firing of 8 US Attorneys? And the order was not included in the documents surrendered by Gonzales? Why? The cloud keeps growing over Gonzales. But . . . see? Gonzales trustworthiness has increased lately before the eyes of the President. What a joke!

[arthurcl1]

The mass firing of U.S. attorneys appeared to be part of a systematic scheme to inject political influence into the hiring and firing decisions of key Justice employees," said Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy. "This secret order would seem to be evidence of an effort to hardwire control over law enforcement by White House political operatives."

"This revelation shows that the Attorney General was prepared to engage in an extraordinary delegation of power to two young and unaccountable staffers who may have taken their marching orders directly from the White House," said Senator Chuck Schumer.

[tbweb]

All Roads Lead To Rove, opps, I meant Rome! LOL

[rharrin1]

And all the dirt in Washington leads to the white house.
Organized crime could take lessons from these thugs.

[ahrats]

Gonzales has passed on his job to others so he can spend more time fiquring out new was to skirt the laws of this country. Does anyone remember is bending of the law to allow for torture of people. What about phone taps without court orders? This thing about firing attorneies is well with in his power and the presidents, so he deligated to underlings and did not keep informed on what they we up to. Sounds like a republican to me. I was just wondering what new things he can come up with in next two years, the president can't be impeached because he knows better than the american people?

[booyaw_77]

How come a security guard gets fired cuz Bill O'Reilly says so and no one talks about it?

[jjp735i]

Why is he still holing the AG office? Oh ya, King George answers to no one.

[johnpatrick9]

"...and when caught in a lie simply cover it with a Biger Lie." Lenin These religious-fascists are not what our REPUBLIC is about, they are the internal threat destroying the fabirc of our democracy by using fear and oligarchy to dominate a dumbed down, numbed populace. Wake up People for 6 years of this is enough to choke on. Time for these traitors to Ameican ideals to be driven out of office for the enomies they are. They have destroyed our name, wasted our blood and wealth and corrupted our institutions. Time to take to the barricades!

[dallison7]

I don't know how... but surely there is some way to

BLAME THIS ON CLINTON!!

[gkc99]

Gonzo has just taken a page from the slackass book of his boss. Bonzo Bushit has taken more vacations than any other prez in history--he likes to be riding his bike and chopping brush while his hirelings do the wet work. Gonzo is another lazy Texasshole. Plus there is such as thing a plausible deniability--"I didn't know, my lackeys did it."

Gonzo will be a real nice wet tamale to slap in the faces of the Republiscum in the next election. Keep it up, neocons!

[sandy19731]

Organized crime could take lessons from these thugs.

Posted by rharrin1 at 05:59 AM : May 01, 2007

QUOTE OF THE DAY

[mcvet]

Congress needs to drag this Religious Nazi, Goodling up, put her under oath and if she takes the 5th as I'm sure she will, then give her immunity because there are some REAL big and smelly fish to fry here. She? She's just a brain dead Cult Member and is of no value to anyone on this Planet. There is an obvious odor to our Justice System and it needs to get cleaned up. When the Fascist start asking for one of their own to resign you can bet the farm on that fact. Sieg Heil and Amen.

[mcvet]

I don't know how... but surely there is some way to

BLAME THIS ON CLINTON!!
Posted by dallison7 at 07:54 AM : May 01, 2

LOL I really don't think that Hate Target is working all that well for the Fascist. Looking at Clintons Approval Numbers, I'd say it isn't working at all. LOL

[dallison7]

The United States Military Oath of Allegiance is a solemn oath taken by members of the United States Armed Services on commissioning. It differs slightly from that of the oath of enlistment that enlisted members recite when they enter the service.


Text of the Oath
I, {insert name here}, do solemnly swear, (or affirm), that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.

"FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC"!!

The United States Military has an obligation to stop this administration!!

[realtorrich1]

From my perspective this story is an attribute of a continuing issue and that is the President's lack of understanding of the balance of power. He has lamblasted Congress for getting in the way of the Generals in Iraq.

In reality our Founding Fathers gave in the US Constitution, the Congress, in Article 1, Section 8, much more responsibility for the Iraq War or any War than the President wants to admit.

And the Constitution requires the 3 branches of Federal Government: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial to work together independently but as one team to serve the country.

And that is something that seems to be missing right now is this issue of teamwork yet independence amoungst the branches of government.

As someone said last week in the news we elected him as President but we did not crown him as King.

[giord1la]

Another friend of Bush's caught doing something wrong. I am starting to see a trend..............................

[rharrin1]

Even tho he gave the power to hire and fire he is still responsible for their actions as he is their boss.

When these people take office they swear an oath and part of that oath is to support and defend the constitution.
When they try to tear down the constitution or go against the constitution they committing a impeachable offence. clearly it is way past time to do some house cleaning.

The best punishment for bush and cheney would be the same fate as nixon put it in the books make it part of history.

[infidel_us]

Hey, is Pedro Gonzalez still on the job? Let me check..........Yep, still there! But I noticed the dems muzzled that looney tune, Harry Reid. By the way, the dems really thought a lot about those 100 hour promises they made, didn't they? Like minimum wage???? They thought so much of you and it that they attached it to a bill Bush said he would veto. Nice! Really nice! :)

[pepperp1]

Amazing, amazing that we tax payers are still paying this man%u2019s salary. When we throw this bum out maybe the DOJ can investigate those fake pumps installed in New Orleans in 2006 by Bushie%u2019s brother former company and put those folks in jail where they belong. I guess it%u2019s just part of that Republican party voter suppersion program oops voter fraud, had a hurricane hit, I am sure that would have wiped out of few more dem voters and maybe the Republicans could turn the State Governorship, just like how Enron helped with California isn%u2019t it.

[lawandorder6]

Get over it. There must be better things to do.

[jn122736]

Hey, is Pedro Gonzalez still on the job? Let me check..........Yep, still there! But I noticed the dems muzzled that looney tune, Harry Reid. By the way, the dems really thought a lot about those 100 hour promises they made, didn't they? Like minimum wage???? They thought so much of you and it that they attached it to a bill Bush said he would veto. Nice! Really nice! :)
Posted by Infidel_US at 09:04 AM : May 01, 2007
--------------------

Infidel, your post is far more helpful than you realize.

The house did everything they promised within the 100-hour window, including passing the minimum wage legislation. Neither the senate nor the House of Representatives have the votes to override a veto and in many cases not enough votes to pass stronger legislation.

That will most likely change in the upcoming 2008 elections, thanks in no small part to comments like yours reminding voters they need to do exactly that.

Keep up the good work.

[forthepeopl1]

give me a tank so i can run right through the gates of hell in washington

[pepperp1]

Great job Alberto you didn%u2019t squeal, from the Law and Order for Everyone But Us Party.

[condumism]

30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS
30% of GOP electorate are SOUTHERN EVANGELICALS

Confirming that the GOP is the party of parasites. I can't stop laughing!

[infidel_us]

Confirming that the GOP is the party of parasites. I can't stop laughing!
Posted by condumism at 10:17 AM : May 01, 2007

99% of democrats are left wing, bedwetting liberals. I can't stop crying!

[infidel_us]

Keep up the good work.
Posted by jn122736 at 09:30 AM : May 01, 2007

Happy to help. :) Just remember, dems are using this for political gain.....they would sell their own mother if it meant regaining the white house in '08. They don't really care about minimum wage, healthcare, etc. Those are just hot button issues that they do well on (as polls say.)

If they really cared, they wouldn't have attached minimum wage to a bill Bush told them he would veto. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

And after all is said and done, Gonzales is still AG.

[condumism]

Infidel_US blurped through her morning hang over:

And after all is said and done, Gonzales is still AG.

I believe that we have a member of the GOP Zombie party, or the living dead on board. Ever conversed with a 28%'er (in reality, a Nazi loving Republicon)? You know the type. They were likely educated in the US public education system after Ronald Reagan destroyed public education in the USA. You know, the one%u2019s that get all of their news from Fascist FOX? The very people that hate free speech, freedom of expression, while at the same time they support Israel more than the USA, and all in the name of a Jesus worshipped by a similar mindset? I conversed with one of these 28%'ers recently. And I'll swear on a stack of Bibles that I was talking with a Zombie, a braindead Reagan Republicon, a member of the living dead.

[david1737]

And the corruption goes on in the GOP. Don't forget the GOP stands for Grand Old Pedophiles.

[infidel_us]

And the corruption goes on in the GOP. Don't forget the GOP stands for Grand Old Pedophiles.
Posted by david1737 at 11:20 AM : May 01, 2007

hilarious.....did you think of that all on your own???

[rharrin1]

they would sell their own mother

Posted by Infidel_US at 10:55 AM : May 01, 2007

Not my mother but I would sell you and again I wouldn't expect to get much for something all used up.
bedwetting liberals. I can't stop crying!
Posted by Infidel_US at 10:51 AM : May 01, 2007

Maybe you're not crying perhaps bedwetting.

[rharrin1]

f they really cared, they wouldn't have attached minimum wage to a bill Bush told them he would veto. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Posted by Infidel_US at 10:55 AM : May 01, 2007

And what bill would that be ZOMBIE?

[david1737]

And the corruption goes on in the GOP. Don't forget the GOP stands for Grand Old Pedophiles.
Posted by david1737 at 11:20 AM : May 01, 2007

hilarious.....did you think of that all on your own???
Posted by Infidel_US at 11:21 AM : May 01, 2007




No! Pedophiles are not "funny" and neither is the vast unbridled corruption of the Neo-cons, nor are these topics to be the subject of sarcasm.

[misha131]

As I recall the concept of an absentee landlord was considered poor management in the evaluation of the US Attorneys. This is just more evidence that AG Gonzales was an absentee landlord and again by his own standards should subject to replacement.

[pepperp1]

I don%u2019t buy the incompetence claims; I believe this is calculated fraud. They have been quite successful in always awarding our tax revenues to their States, their churches, their friends, their girlfriends, their families, their operatives, their donors, their academic institutions, their pork projects and their favored corporations regardless of capability or public opinion and they have been doing it for 6 years draining our treasury and our social security trust fund. They are keeping Alberto around so he will not remember to indict them.

[sandy19731]

So,

I guess Mr. Gonzales was hired to just stand next to Mr. Bush and look Hispanic.

He doesn't seem to have any duties that he can remember or that he hasn't delegated to others.

In his defense, he does look very Hispanic and that is refreshing in Washington.

[homespunlady]

Just a reminder - if we DO NOT want this corrupt bunch to retain power we need to insure SAFE AND FAIR ELECTIONS with VERIFIABLE election counts and a fight to ban the dirty tricks that have allowed such corruption to gain control of our country. Control of electronic voting machines by PARTISAN companies and their openly partisan executives have been proven to be hackable and the back-door software able to turn the vote in a 50 to 49 percent win for the "prechosen" candidate. EVER WONDER WHY SUDDENLY WE HAVE SO MANY "CLOSE" ELECTIONS when it used to be relatively rare???

Covert Control of the vote by ANY group should not be allowed!!!!!

[infidel_us]

No! Pedophiles are not "funny" and neither is the vast unbridled corruption of the Neo-cons, nor are these topics to be the subject of sarcasm.
Posted by david1737 at 11:42 AM : May 01, 2007

Oh please....why don't you come down off your condescending high horse. You bedwetting libs are in no position to be taking the high road....on anything!!! Care to show me the "evidence" of "vast unbridled corruption of the Neo-cons", you cry baby? What will you do when Rosie O'Lardass is off the view?

[abbe7]

What about USAG's not fired ?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/01/washington/01corrupt.html?ei=5088&en=301d72e7b39b9fca&ex=1335672000&adxnnl=0&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1178021124-2nztnLGh95f0AKQEII50hA&pagewanted=all

[jvman4u]

Let's not put alot of faith (pun intended) into the electronic election results either, the oldest brother BUSH still has all that in his pocket since 2000.... Will we ever dig out from under this pile of ***?

[infidel_us]

Oh yea so Clinton could put in all his Lib Judges who give crooks more power than the law biding person.
Posted by FARTKNOCKER2 at 12:47 PM : May 01, 2007

Wasting your time. They've got answeres for this. "Clinton got rid of them all in the beginning of his presidency." Even though a couple of them were investigating the Whitewater dealings down in Arkansas.

They gloss over that with the greatest of ease. But hey....Bush lied and people died, right? :)

[rharrin1]

FARTKNOCKER2

Your breath is blowing back in your face.

[frankly6]

All of Gonzales problems are Clinton's fault!

Clinton fired 12,500 prosecutors.






I like puppies.

[jn122736]

"Just a reminder - if we DO NOT want this corrupt bunch to retain power we need to insure SAFE AND FAIR ELECTIONS with VERIFIABLE election counts and a fight to ban the dirty tricks that have allowed such corruption to gain control of our country. Control of electronic voting machines by PARTISAN companies and their openly partisan executives have been proven to be hackable and the back-door software able to turn the vote in a 50 to 49 percent win for the "prechosen" candidate. EVER WONDER WHY SUDDENLY WE HAVE SO MANY "CLOSE" ELECTIONS when it used to be relatively rare???

Covert Control of the vote by ANY group should not be allowed!!!!!"
Posted by homespunlady at 11:54 AM : May 01, 2007
------------------

homespunlady; maybe that explains why Bush has always been so arrogant?

I suspect they made a huge miscalculation of the voter%u2019s choices last November and will make sure that doesn%u2019t happen in 2008. You are right in reminding everyone because there doesn%u2019t appear to be any serious show of concern, even by those of us most affected.

It is very hard for the average American to ever consider, let alone believe; that their vote%u2019s could/would ever be changed from the way they had cast them, just as it is hard to even contemplate the possibility that 911 was only a part of the plan to invade Iraq.

[pakaal]

Wasting your time. They've got answeres for this. "Clinton got rid of them all in the beginning of his presidency." Even though a couple of them were investigating the Whitewater dealings down in Arkansas.

They gloss over that with the greatest of ease. But hey....Bush lied and people died, right? :)
Posted by Infidel_US

Yeah, spurious analogy there; firing all attorneys (including two attorneys investigating Whitewater) in no way equates to Bush lying to Congress and the American people to go to war with Iraq, leading to the deaths (so far) of over 3,300 american soldiers.

[bill1fj]

Resign Alberto

Lets have some people with integrity on the job, if that is possible with this administration.

(And I was one of millions that made the mistake of voting for Bush after being tricked by his administrations lies.)

[tucano2]

The proper thing for Gonzales to do is either suicide or resignation-either one gets rid of him, and that is what is best for the USA. Gonzales can return to mexico where he belongs and agitate from there.

[deathtoallah]

Gonzales needs to move back to Mexico with his brothers and sisters...you all know those ILLEGAL ALIENS invading our country.. They all need to go.
He needs to get out of our government!

[kansas1946]

Alberto who?? Is this guy still here. He should have been gone two months ago. Just the same old Bush administration BS. NEVER do the right thing.