Gonzales: Deputy Advised Attorney Firings

Attorney General Says Paul McNulty "Signed Off On The Names"

(CBS/AP)  Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday he relied on his resigning deputy more than any other aide to decide which U.S. attorneys should be fired last year.

His comments come a less than a day after Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty announced he would resign at the end of the summer — a decision that people familiar with the plans said was hastened by the controversy over the purge of eight prosecutors.

Democratic opponents of the Bush administration say the firings were politically motivated and have called for the resignation of Gonzales, the top U.S. law enforcement official who heads the Justice Department.

President George W. Bush has steadfastly supported Gonzales, saying the firings were appropriate based on the attorneys' performance, but conceding that Gonzales and the Justice Department did a poor job of communicating to Congress how the changes in the federal prosecutor offices were handled.

"You have to remember, at the end of the day, the recommendations reflected the views of the deputy attorney general. He signed off on the names," Gonzales told reporters at a National Press Club forum in Washington. "And he would know better than anyone else, anyone in this room, anyone — again, the deputy attorney general would know best about the qualifications and the experiences of the United States attorneys community, and he signed off on the names."

Gonzales also called McNulty's pending departure "a loss. ... I'm really going to miss him." But he said he relied on McNulty's views more than another other adviser, and said he was reassured by his deputy as recently as March that the firings all were justified.

"The one person I would care about would be the views of the deputy attorney general, because the deputy attorney general is the direct supervisor of the United States attorneys," Gonzales said.

The attorney general, who has long been a confidant and associate of George W. Bush, has apparently surmounted a wave of calls last month for his resignation in the wake of the flap over the firings of the federal prosecutors.

Republicans taking part in a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week defended him, saying that Democrats should back away in their continuing investigation of the firings. That contrasted sharply with calls from some Senate Republicans for Gonzales' resignation earlier this year.

McNulty was the third top Justice official to leave in recent months, reported CBS News correspondent Bob Orr. Gonzales' liaison to the White House, Monica Goodling, and his chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, have also resigned.

"It seems ironic that Paul McNulty, who at least tried to level with the committee, goes while Gonzales, who stonewalled the committee, is still in charge," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

McNulty's resignation is expected to be the start of significant turnover at the department, particularly within the office he heads. Possible replacements for McNulty, according to several Justice officials, include Kevin O'Connor, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, who also serves now as Gonzales' staff chief; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Wainstein; and Susan Brooks, top prosecutor in Indiana, who is vice chair of the attorney general's advisory committee.

[amalgamashun]

Oh boy here we go...

[inventagod2]

B.S.

Bu$h is responsible.

[toldyouso21]

How disingenuous...Gonzales is trying to lay all the blame at the door of the DAG. Nobody believes him--but he is hoping McNulty is a big enough sacrificial lamb? Gonzales is not trustworthy and frankly, is a bit of a sleaze. Odds are, reshaping the DOJ and even Justice at local levels and advocating torture are only the tip of the iceberg. Wonder if Gonzales sees himself as a new Himmler or Goebbels? Maybe Eichmann?

[im4honesty]

Gonzales also called McNulty's pending departure "a loss. ... I'm really going to miss him."


You didn't miss him... you little beaner. You knifed him right in the back as he was leaving the room!!

[inventagod2]

The Publish button is wired to the White House.
Following your FBI speed-check, your post will be released to C-B.S. for consideration.
This process has resulted in multiple postings, please pardon the inconvenience.
-Homeyland Suckurity

[terrapin78]

The buck stops at the top of DOJ.

Remove Gonzales. Hasn't he jaywalked or something that would get him sent to Gitmo?

Pleeeaasse!!!!!!!!

[canyoutellme-2009]

Are you serious?? WOW! talk about blatantly throwing your teammate under the bus... "yeah, it was him.. he did it.. not me... it was him.. poor feller, i'm sure gonna miss him".. riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight... OMG, this is ridiculous!!

GONZO - OUT - NOW. Unbelieveable!! He must have learned from his master and lord supreme... George Bush - on how to sacrifice his teammates when it was HE who is responsible... Unbelieveable how BLATANTLY in your FACE it is.

[terrapin78]

And look at the photo at the top of this page.

How *** king arrogant can someone look. Nose up in the air.

Remove the POS NOW!

[realpatriot1]

Conyers statement today was rather intriguing:" Mr. McNulty's resignation is a sign that top level administrators at DOJ may be crumbling under the pressure of ongoing revelations, AND WHAT IS YET TO BE DISCLOSED."

I wonder what we don't know yet that the Committee does. This might be a little psychological warfare or this may be about to morph into something even bigger.

[nyckate]

WOW - talk about a dagger in the back - Do Bush and Alberto really think America going to buy into their weak attempt to lay blame all at McNulty's door?? I know the ever-lessening number of braindead Bushies will buy into it - because they need to - but really - does anyone else??

[cbslogin12]

McNulty was Bush-whacked!

[luvny-2009]

I just can't believe what's going on, one thing after another and they are all sitting there fat dumb and happy. They've all made millions off us on oil since that AH's been in office. When will it ever stop!

[mike71067]

Could this witch-hunt that most Americans believe is a waste of time and money be the reason that approval of the Democrat Congress is below that of Bush?

"Congress Approval Down to 29%; Bush Approval Steady at 33% - Gallup Poll"

Or perhaps it's because the Dumbocrats will only allow funding for our troops if it includes billions of dollars in unrelated waste (spinach farms, etc.) Wasn't it about this time last year that the Dumbocrats were whining about the "culture of corruption"? The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[bks59]

What still does not get stated is that gonzo failed to supervise his subordinates, therefore and what most lay people know, is that makes him liable fo the actions of his staff, end of story.

[mbcsmith]

WOW - talk about a dagger in the back - Do Bush and Alberto really think America going to buy into their weak attempt to lay blame all at McNulty's door?? I know the ever-lessening number of braindead Bushies will buy into it - because they need to - but really - does anyone else??
Posted by NYCKATE at 12:42 PM : May 15, 2007

BLAME for what? After months of investigations, million$ of our tax dollars and reems of accusations all of which point to NOTHING. No crimes or even a hint of crime. All a big dog and LIB pony show. LIBS are wasting valuable congressional time when they should FUND THE TROOPS NOW!

[mike71067]

I personally hope the Dems continue this silly parade. The American people couldn't care less about nine attorneys that lost their jobs (most people would probably agree that the less lawyers we have in this country, the better), and this has cost tons of money and gone absolutely nowhere. No crimes, nothing. Sort of like the Clinton impeachment. And we all know what happened in the following election...

Keep on, Dems!

[adventurepa]

I sure hope they grant him immunity to testify against gonzo and bush.

Can you say "scape-goat" children?
Sure, I knew you could.

I wonder if he got the same peptalk,
"You'll make 20,000 an appearence just like ollie North," speech.
When is someone going to stand-up like Jack Ryan(Harisson Ford) in "Clear and Present Danger"?

[advanceus]

WOW is right!! This is the worse case of government corruption that there is. Imagine that arrogant SOB just sitting there pointing his finger at anyone who walks by and is getting away with it because he has Geo in his pocket also. Apparently the people in charge never read this type of feedback from the general public or else they might realize we don't like what is going on and are not stupid that we cannot see it! Heaven help us because no one else is going to.

[ramos937]

Any hope that AG Gonzales and the WH had that he would survive the sorry affair went out the window when he said that the DAG was responsible for the US Attorneys firings. Now the DAG will be aching at the bit to testify not only about the firings but anything else that he knows. This was an incredible dumb move.

[lorinkundert]

It never ends with this regime, always kicking someone when they are down. Gonzales should be the one stepping down.

[mike71067]

"I just can't believe what's going on, one thing after another and they are all sitting there fat dumb and happy. They've all made millions off us on oil since that AH's been in office. When will it ever stop!"
Posted by luvNY at 12:56 PM : May 15, 2007

Not to be rude, but are you drunk? What does what you're attempting to say have to do with Alberto Gonzales? Apprently, your left-wing hatred is so intense that you can't even articulate simple thoughts.

[roger_inkart]

Ok, so does anyone have any idea what this bozo does at the DOJ? It seems that he has no idea what goes on, who does what and for what reasons.

Typical Bush admin official - it's everyone eles's fault and responsibilty.

What a worm.

[canyoutellme-2009]

BLAME for what? After months of investigations, million$ of our tax dollars and reems of accusations all of which point to NOTHING. No crimes or even a hint of crime. All a big dog and LIB pony show. LIBS are wasting valuable congressional time when they should FUND THE TROOPS NOW!

Posted by mbcsmith at 01:09 PM : May 15, 2007

Uh, the libs DID fund the troops... your GOD, George Bush, Vetoed it and so therefore, it was HE who is not fundnig the troops. Dood, the time table for withdrawal was NON BINDING! It was NON BINDING! do you know what this means? It means the president could have approved the bill, and just not followed the time table... your PRESIDENT did this just so he doesn't "appear" weak... it's all about his own EGO and that's that.

BTW, what do you mean it's proven NOTHING on these AG firings? A LOT has been proven. Multiple people resigning over this. WHY would they resign if there was NOTHING to resign over? Hmm? wow, the cronies on the right are amazing and their supporters are blind to the fact that oversight and fairness in gov't is being attacked big time. the CONSTITUTION is *NOT* just a piece of paper to the majority of Americans.

[seven-pesos]

never met a southerner i ever liked.

fat azzed, smelly, ignorant, war making, bible thumping, flag waving pieces of dumb dixie *****.

they go around waving that confederate flag like some kind of venereable object.

actually, that rebel rag represents how the south has lost every war they ever started.

jefferson davis lost his war.
johnson lost his war.
bush will lose his war.

the south has lost every war they ever started.

bible thumping, flag waving, evil christian snakes, republican freaks...

nothing good comes out of the south!

[canyoutellme-2009]

I personally hope the Dems continue this silly parade. The American people couldn't care less about nine attorneys that lost their jobs (most people would probably agree that the less lawyers we have in this country, the better), and this has cost tons of money and gone absolutely nowhere. No crimes, nothing. Sort of like the Clinton impeachment. And we all know what happened in the following election...

Keep on, Dems!
Posted by mike71067 at 01:13 PM : May 15, 2007

You're right, no one cares about the 9 lawyers who lost their jobs... but americans DO care that they were fired for not being politically "aligned" with the far right. It HAS gone somewhere... people have RESIGNED over this and wanted IMMUNITY from prosecution in order to testify! Now WHY would they want that if there was no basis for any wrongdoing? Are you smoking something? Is your LOVE for your GOD George Bush that strong that you're blind to the REALITIES of life? It's not WRONG to be a republican, but it *IS* wrong to support Alberto Gonzales and George Bush. If you want to be a REAL republican, take your party back from those that hijacked it.

[roger_inkart]

Apprently, your left-wing hatred is so intense that you can't even articulate simple thoughts.
Posted by mike71067 at 01:37 PM : May 15, 2007

Well, if he could only articulate "simple thoughts" he would then be a right-winger.

I hope McNulty has learned a valuable lesson about how the Bush administration works. They are without honor, integrity and are completely unethical. They are human garbage and I hope he testifies, under oath, just what went on and who knew what when.

As if we all don't know what happened here: The Bush administration used strong arm tactics to force US attorneys to go after Dems and protect Republicans. That is what happened.

[mbcsmith]

Uh, the libs DID fund the troops... your GOD, George Bush, Vetoed it and so therefore, it was HE who is not fundnig the troops. Dood, the time table for withdrawal was NON BINDING! It was NON BINDING! do you know what this means? It means the president could have approved the bill, and just not followed the time table... your PRESIDENT did this just so he doesn't "appear" weak... it's all about his own EGO and that's that.

BTW, what do you mean it's proven NOTHING on these AG firings? A LOT has been proven. Multiple people resigning over this. WHY would they resign if there was NOTHING to resign over? Hmm? wow, the cronies on the right are amazing and their supporters are blind to the fact that oversight and fairness in gov't is being attacked big time. the CONSTITUTION is *NOT* just a piece of paper to the majority of Americans.
Posted by CANYOUTELLME at 01:40 PM : May 15, 2007


The LIBS twisted arms and paid BRIBES to pass a SURRENDER bill! Trying to micromanage troop movements is NOT the job of CONGRESS. It is the CONSTITUTIONAL responsibility of the President! Dog face Nancy and witless Harry need to understand that.

[joenc-2009]

The wheels on the bus go round and round ...

Another republican cronie goes under the bus, under the bus, under the bus ...

[jerr11]

"Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Tuesday he relied on his resigning deputy more than any other aide to decide which U.S. attorneys should be fired last year."


Wow, that was quick!

This Admin believes in passing the buck!

First Libby, then McNulty.

If you get caught committing a crime, just say, "HE DID IT, I DIDN'T DO IT!"

That's the courage and accountability of the neo-cons!!

[j4401]

I care about the people who were fired. Especially Ms. Lam who tried to ferret out government fraud in San Diego.

[changeit4]

Convenient that McNulty offered his head, and Gonzales conveniently seized it... "look... I didn't do it, er I mean, Karl... I mean I take full responsibility... I mean... Paul did it, yeah... it was Paul."

Gonzales also called McNulty's pending departure "a loss. ... I'm really going to miss him." Sounds like something Tony Soprano would say as the heavy bodybag of a scapegoat sinks to the bottom...

[canyoutellme-2009]

Could this witch-hunt that most Americans believe is a waste of time and money be the reason that approval of the Democrat Congress is below that of Bush?

"Congress Approval Down to 29%; Bush Approval Steady at 33% - Gallup Poll"

Or perhaps it's because the Dumbocrats will only allow funding for our troops if it includes billions of dollars in unrelated waste (spinach farms, etc.) Wasn't it about this time last year that the Dumbocrats were whining about the "culture of corruption"? The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Posted by mike71067 at 01:06 PM : May 15, 2007

Those supplemental items on the bill are just that.. supplemental... this was a supplemental spending bill, do you know what that means? It's NOT pork.. but even if it was, that is NOT the reason Bush vetoed it... it was vetoed ONLY because of the timetable for withdrawal.

BTW, the pot is calling the kettle black here... why is it that on a PORT SECURITY BILL, the REPUBLICONS piggy backed a little piece of legislation outlawing US citizens from playing online poker? What does THAT have to do with PORT SECURITY? *NOTHING* that's what...

BTW, the american public does NOT approve of the congress for one big reason... the REPUBLICANS are still in it! The approval rating is for ALL of the people in congress, not just democrats you dolt.

[changeit4]

Convenient that McNulty offered his head, and Gonzales conveniently seized it... "look... I didn't do it, er I mean, I don't remember doing it... I was told I was there when it happened, I mean I take full responsibility... I mean... Paul did it, yeah... it was Paul."

Gonzales also called McNulty's pending departure "a loss. ... I'm really going to miss him." Sounds like something Tony Soprano would say as the heavy bodybag of a scapegoat sinks to the bottom...

[gasp3]

How about putting the whole bunch of these clowns,starting from Bush downwards, in front of a firing squad..and let the "American Nightmare" end??!!

[seven-pesos]

history shows what happens when southerners get the power in america.

the south has a dark and sordid past.

bush is just the latest chapter to come out of that most militaristic and extremist region of america.

bush, gonzalez, condisleezeball, falwell, robertson, reed, swaggart, delay, foley

all southern, all republican, all christian, all snakes...

slave state dixie snakes!

the south never does good for america.

always war, hate, phony christian creeps and crooked republican snakes.

ha,ha,ha.

that's the south for you, folks!

nothing good comes out of the south.

[randalds]

The LIBS twisted arms and paid BRIBES to pass a SURRENDER bill! Trying to micromanage troop movements is NOT the job of CONGRESS. It is the CONSTITUTIONAL responsibility of the President! Dog face Nancy and witless Harry need to understand that.
Posted by mbcsmith at 01:47 PM : May 15, 2007

It is the Constitutional responsibility of the Congress to control the purse strings and demanding conditions on how and when the money is spent. It is not their job just to write a blank check for the president, even in matters of war, just because the president wants it that way. If that were true then they'd just send him a check for the national budget every year and he'd get to decide where all the money goes. It don't work that way! If he wants to control how the money is allocated and spent then let him resign as president and run for Congress. Until then he must either accept or reject spending bills with whatever strings that are attached whether he likes them or not. He didn't like the strings attached to the war funding bill, so he vetoed it. that's his right, but it is he who stopped funding the troops by that veto, not the Congress. They did their job.

[canyoutellme-2009]

Attention NeoCONs

Tell me, the actions of your God, George Bush has now alienated us from almost ALL of the industrialized nations (and NON industrialized nations of the world btw) in the world. There are a couple that are still with us including Great Britain (and they pulled their troops.. yeah, great support) and Australia (LOL - great place to visit tho'). We're now facing a new cold war with Russia. Iran has the upper hand on us... the UN means nothing to the US and therefore, the US means nothing to the UN. Tell me, how is this PROGRESS in the world? Should we not be friends with our neighbors? And I don't mean just Canada and Mexico (although we have strained relations with BOTH!)

It is the arrogance of Bush and his Cronies (Alberto Gonzales being one of them, Condi Rice being another ... the list goes on and on) that is causing ALL of this.

[randalds]

BTW Jerry Falwell just died, but CBS is not allowing comments in that section.

So I'll just say "Thank God!" and everyone can take it as thank god he's dead or thank god they aren't allowing comments. For me it fits both ways.

;-)

[chicnlittle]

Page 1 of 4 | First | 1 2 3 4 | Last
history shows what happens when southerners get the power in america.

the south has a dark and sordid past.

bush is just the latest chapter to come out of that most militaristic and extremist region of america.

bush, gonzalez, condisleezeball, falwell, robertson, reed, swaggart, delay, foley

all southern, all republican, all christian, all snakes...

slave state dixie snakes!

the south never does good for america.

always war, hate, phony christian creeps and crooked republican snakes.

ha,ha,ha.

that's the south for you, folks!

nothing good comes out of the south.
Posted by seven-pesos at 01:57 PM : May 15, 2007

.....which would alsoinclude the Clintons.

[fascistusa]

FALWELL IS DEAD!!!

HALLELUIHA!! HALLELIUHA!! HALLELIUHA. HALLELIUHA. HALLELUIHA!!!!

"Liberty" University is a Training ground for Evangelical FASCISTS.

GONZALES IS A FASCIST.

FREE AMERICA FROM THIS FASCIST REGIME!!!!

[randalds]

"Congress Approval Down to 29%; Bush Approval Steady at 33% - Gallup Poll"

Posted by mike71067 at 01:06 PM : May 15, 2007

Now That's an old old poll! Bush's ratings even on FOX Noise haven't been in the 30% range in months and MSNBC had him at 28% this week (and flling). Oh and that's not Congresses ratings "down" to 29%. It's UP to 29% and steadily rising. Has been since November. Bush's numbers keep dropping and Congresses keep going up.

[chicnlittle]

BTW Jerry Falwell just died, but CBS is not allowing comments in that section.

So I'll just say "Thank God!" and everyone can take it as thank god he's dead or thank god they aren't allowing comments. For me it fits both ways.

;-)
Posted by RandalDS at 02:03 PM : May 15, 2007


Well gee randalds, now you have something to shout out from the roof of your rusty K-car that sits in front of your double wide on the nice side of the park tonight.

[scalliwagrx8]

Funny repubs complain about the Whitehouse firing people now. If I recall they sure thought is was a big deal when Clinton fired the travel office staff? It was a big enough deal to have hearings, issue subpoenas, etc.

My guess is that all the repubs are having memory lapses about those investigations right? It is just starting to get fun guys.

[roger_inkart]

Apprently, your left-wing hatred is so intense that you can't even articulate simple thoughts.
Posted by mike71067 at 01:37 PM : May 15, 2007

Well, if he could only articulate "simple thoughts" he would then be a right-winger.

I hope McNulty has learned a valuable lesson about how the Bush administration works. They are without honor, integrity and are completely unethical. They are human garbage and I hope he testifies, under oath, just what went on and who knew what when.

As if we all don't know what happened here: The Bush administration used strong arm tactics to force US attorneys to go after Dems and protect Republicans. That is what happened.

[scalliwagrx8]

Oops, it should have started "Funny how the repubs are upset about investigations of Whitehouse firings now". :)

[randalds]

Posted by chicnlittle at 02:09 PM : May 15, 2007

Hey I was wrong! I didn't think there were any trolls in this thread today. Then here one pops up.

Still it looks like a low level infestation if this is the best this one can do. lol! Shoo troll, shoo.

[nyckate]

roger_inkart - I'm with you there -- Alberto didn't just slam a daggar into McNulty's back he threw a whole slew of them at him!!

But unless McNulty is left out in the cold with no job offers from Bush supporters then we aren't going to get much out of him -- he made it very clear that he does have a family to support.

[ademeyer]

I think CBS has been taken over by a bunch of right-wing nuts. I just heard they fired Major General Batiste from CBS consulting because he appeared in an anti-Iraqi surge commercial. Meanwhile, they retain consultants with ties to the Republicans. Apparently, a Pro-Bush bias is acceptable, but an independent thinker like Batiste...whooa! Gotta fire that retired general!
To think CBS used mean Cronkite, Rather, Schieffer, Roger Mudd, Mike Wallace, Leslie Sthal, Ed Bradley, honorable and trustworthy journalists...those were the days!

[jetranger7]

I BELIEVE ITS TIME TO GET THE US A REAL ATTORNEY GENERAL, THIS GUY IS NO LONGER CREDIBLE !!!! TIME FOR GONZOLAS TO HEAD TO Mc DONALDS TO GET A JOB GIVING OUT HAPPY MEALS AND HOTT APPLE PIES !!!!!

[im4honesty]

FALWELL IS DEAD!!!!

(A big huge house fell on his fat asp)