Ex-Aide Accuses Gonzales Of Wrongdoing

Monica Goodling Says Attorney General Tried To Review His Version Of Firings With Her Amid Probe

(CBS/AP)  A former Justice Department official at the center of the uproar over prosecutor firings told House investigators Wednesday that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales tried to review his story of the dismissals with her at a time when lawmakers were homing in on conflicting accounts.

"It made me a little uncomfortable," Monica Goodling, Gonzales' former White House liaison, said of her conversation with the attorney general just before she took a leave of absence in March. "I just did not know if it was appropriate for us to both be discussing our recollections of what had happened."

In a daylong appearance before the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee, Goodling, 33, also acknowledged crossing a legal line herself by considering the party affiliations of candidates for career prosecutor jobs — a violation of law.

She also said that Gonzales' No. 2, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, knew more than he let on when he did not disclose to Congress the extent of White House involvement in deciding which prosecutors to fire. McNulty strongly denied that he withheld information, saying Goodling did not fully brief him about the White House's involvement.

Goodling's dramatic story about her final conversation with Gonzales brought questions from panel members about whether he had tried to align her story with his and whether he was truthful in his own congressional testimony.

Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee last month that he didn't know the answers to some questions about the firings because he was steering clear of aides — such as Goodling — who were likely to be questioned.

"I haven't talked to witnesses because of the fact that I haven't wanted to interfere with this investigation and department investigations," Gonzales told the panel.

Goodling said for the first time Wednesday that Gonzales did review the story of the firings with her at an impromptu meeting she requested in his office a few days before she took a leave of absence.

"I was somewhat paralyzed. I was distraught, and I felt like I wanted to make a transfer," Goodling recalled during a packed hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.

Gonzales, she said, indicated he would think about Goodling's request.

"He then proceeded to say, 'Let me tell you what I can remember,' and he laid out for me his general recollection ... of some of the process" of the firings, Goodling added. When Gonzales finished, she said, "he asked me if I had any reaction to his iteration."

Goodling said the conversation made her uncomfortable because she was aware that she, Gonzales and others would be called by Congress to testify.

"Was the attorney general trying to shake your recollection?" asked Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala.

Goodling paused.

"I just did not know if it was a conversation we should be having and so I just didn't say anything," she replied.

Democrats pounced.

"It certainly has the flavor of trying to get their stories straight," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a member of the committee.

When asked by Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., who was paying her lawyers, Goodling answered that she was paying for them but that she intends to set up a "legal defense fund," though she has not yet done so, CBS News reported.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by parrot2

Polly-wanna is a dimwit. Can't seem to grasp timelines and can't follow the trend of thought. Must live life only in the moment. No continuity, no point of reference. Just focus on the immediate and therefore, that's all that counts. Well, polly-wanna take your peyote and enjoy the moment. Next event coming up - polly-wanna will stay focused. Life is just a moment-to-moment event. Just like all users. Waiting for the next fix. LOL

[starleo146]

If anyone after goodling's testimony doesn't believe they (White HOUSE )GOnzales were not trying to monopolize the justice dept. as they did the supreme court is just blind as a bat this is the most corrupt administration in history and what is going on they can get away with it. Just look Rumsfeld and the Petagon Justice dept. and Gonzales and Bush and Cheney and supreme court nominations and Condi doing away with Colin Powell taking sec. of state they were trying to change the gov. all the way around .

[mudrose-2009]

it appears someone has a major chip on their shoulder about someone getting a BJ. What gives?
Posted by j4401
a republican can't get a bj unless it's from one of their little boys.
Posted by rharrin1

Since all of you dimwits just can't grasp the point and seem to think the essence of my ire is BJ's bj, the point of it since you are all so moral and righteous is that this disgusting human sample of *****, while getting his rocks off, because he could, was actually in dereliction of his duty as commander in chief. Ya know, the ship of state was adrift at sea, nobody was a the helm, get it -- WTC I, Oklahoma Bombing, worst AG in history that Janet Reno, Embassies in Africa, USS Cole, are you getting my point. Osama well within his range and he did nothing. The irony of this is that you all ignore the fact that this man's actions lowered the bar, not to mention his predecessor JFK, and you sit there and complain as to what follows. And as far as pointing out the the repubs allowed a fairy to go after other little fairies is hypocrisy personified on your side of the aisle as if the latter faries didn't enjoy the limelight. Reminds me of the time when all those sleezebags on the hill went after all the little prettys who encouraged them too thinking their careers would be advanced. Again the bar was lowered. But you sit there and say I pontificate, then you grumble about ethics. And just for the record I come from a long line of Dumnocrats, but not any more.

[starleo146]

wasn't this Gooding laison between the justice dept. and the white house what did she mean I did not have any talks with Harriet Meirs or Karl ROVE if she commits perjury they will get her on some lie she was fully prepared though they (WHITE HOUSE)really coached her I after her testimony couldn't understand the hoopla over her she was a big disappointment nothing I didn't expect from a cancerous administration came out really she protected her republican base and white house.

[ioweign]

What I don't understand is that if she doesn't know anything why would she need immunity.
Posted by cathaleen at 02:42 PM : May 23, 2007

Because she IS GUILTY of some crimes. She confessed to using political affiliation as a factor for hiring in the civil service which is crime. She did not reveal anything damaging outside of the Justice Department. Make the committee dig, do not volunteer anything. She too is covered under the Hatch Act. She may not have had a voice communication with anyone at the WH but what about written?? We go back to those e-mails on computers setup by the RNC!!!

[antoniof123]

I am sick of this group the sooner 2008 rolls around the sooner we get rid of this rotten bunch. A bj hurts no one in fact I have yet to meet a guy who doesn't enjoy it. So for you sick facists shut up.

[imprisonbush]

As a committed Democrat who believes Gonzo and friends are puppets and facilitators of this group of war criminals, I hope Gonzo does NOT resign. Congress should impeach and then he should be prosecuted. If Congress cannot stomach that (you bunch of wimps and corrupt Repugnant Party criminals), then it's better that Gonzo remain. At least that way everyone is under no illusion about the deceitful slime they are dealing with. Gonzo also gives the Dems another great corrupt official whose mug on a poster will help run the Repugnant Party out of Washington. If the Shrub were to replace Gonzo, it would probably take several months for the public to realize what new slime the Shrub has appointed. We don't have that time to waste. But impeachment and prosecution should be where Congress spends most of its time (including the Shrub and Pr*ick Cheney of course). Pelosi, you need to change your tune on this one, and quickly.

[forthepeopl1]

time for true americans to take up arms to get rid of our illeigal government...

its our right and it the constitution. if our governmet is not doing what the american want its up to us to change it.....

so lets get started

[rushlimpdrug]

%u201CI don't believe I intended to commit a crime,%u201D
%u201CI don't believe I intended to commit a crime,%u201D
%u201CI don't believe I intended to commit a crime,%u201D
%u201CI don't believe I intended to commit a crime,%u201D
%u201CI don't believe I intended to commit a crime,%u201D
-Ok Bart Simpson write it 100 times on the board

[im4honesty]

Arrest Gonzales!!

I want to see him do the frog-walk!!

[cozzicon]

I knew nothing substantive would come of this.

In order to understand a sociopath, you have to learn to think like one. So what is the thought process?

1. Plead the fifth.

2. Admit to one or two criminal infractions to justify taking the fifth, saving yourself.

3. Cover your bosses ***, saving your boss.

One very telling moment came when Ms. Goodling answered a question about having kept someone out of a job:

"I didn't know they were a Democrat, though I knew they were a liberal" (SIC)-- Monica Goodling

Notice the phrase. It should burn into your mind like fire.

[mcvet]

For over 200 years, through good and bad, there has been ONE constant in our Nation. The Justice Department at the FEDERAL Level has always taken the Best and Brightest when hiring professional's. That's why there is a LAW there, a very clear LAW that simply say's that a person's POLITICAL views can not be concidered in their hiring. NO ONE should be hiring people without KNOWING the law and I just do not buy the line of, I didn't know what I was doing. As for Gonzo, it's so obvious at this point that he has LIED to Congress and the American People, anyone can see through it. But now it appears that not only has he lied but has obstructed Justice. Time to lock up the lot of them, Bush, Gonzo AND Rove. They attempted to turn this nation into a Southern Dictatorship... a Government of ONE PARTY VIEWS. That isn't acceptable and IS ILLIGAL!!

[mcvet]

No. I'm not close to admitting anything. You people just don't get it. Lying is just that lying. Implying that lying is acceptable in one instance and not in another is absurdity to the nth degree. In fact, I consider it stupidity. Parsing is. . . oh heck look it up. I don't like kangaroo courts and this is the mentality. Can you grasp that much?
Posted by mudrose at 04:50 PM : May 23, 2007

You Don't like Kangaroo Courts but you wail to high heaven about an Affair uncovered because the Fascist Prosicutor couldn't find one thing wrong with what he was SUPPOSED to be looking into. Man that's about as stupid as anything I've ever heard. OF course there is a difference in Lies... there are lies that hurt only the person telling it, Clinton, and there are lies that hurt us all, Gonzo and Bush. Any fool who thinks Clintons Wrong even comes close to "High Crimes" is totally out of their minds. Anyone who does NOT see the lies of Gonzo and the High Crimes he and Bush have committed, again, is out of their minds. Sieg Heil and Amen.

[realpatriot1]

homojet,

I'm one of the people who wants to get Karl Rove and if this is supposed to be a disappointment, keep 'em coming! We've been hearing for weeks from you cons that no crime was committed. She admitted to committing a crime herself and directly implicated the AG in obstruction of justice and the Ast. AG in perjury. Not bad.

mudrose,
How do you parse obstruction of jusice and perjury from the chief law enforcement officers in the land? You may try to cast these as being like parking tickets but you are only fooling the Ann Coulter loonie crowd. It would cost less money if anyone from the Bush administration other than this woman came out and said what they did. Like most conservative Republicans, you aren't the least bit consistent. Never say bad about another Republican, isn't that the credo?

It has been established that Gonzales broke the law,unless everyone else from this administration testifying under oath is committing perjury.

[djconklin]

You sound an awlful lot like a nazi to me.

The right-wing has gone so far to the right that everyone who disagres with their point of view looks like a Nazi to them.

[stevex47]

Nice jerr11,

Interesting how they'll hide pedophiles within their own party(Foley), but impeach a president for consensual heterosexual ***.

Sorry for the change of topic :)

[mcvet]

Another disappointment for the folks who are out to get Karl Rove. Come election time, the folks that voted for these people will be voting them out for lack of getting anything done. They just keep spending alot of money that does not seem to go anywhere. The Attorney General is not going to give up his job an the President will not fire him. Congress poll numbers are lower then the Presidents, an that cannot be good. We wanted them to stop the War but they failed.
Posted by homjett at 07:24 PM : May 23, 2007

You sound an awlful lot like a nazi to me. When the Do NOTHING Congress was in power there was NO oversight as REQUIRED by the Constitution. You do remember that document don't you? It says as plainly as it can be said that what the Democrats are doing here with Gonzo and the Klan Man is ABSOLUTELY their jobs. Since when is doing their jobs wrong? As for the war, it's not the Democrats who will bear the burden of the continuing failure of Iraq. They tried to pass legislation getting us out but the Fascist blocked it and the Fuhrer vetoed it. So when you can't get that done you move on... it's called Democracy and there is so much the fascist left for this congress to clean up. Sieg Heil Y'all. ROFLMAO

[jerr11]

The Republicans will never impeach this corrupt sleazeball currently calling himself Commander-in-Chief."

It's time to send a fat intern to the Oval office to service Bush.

Looks like that's the only crime that will get the Republicans to impeach this scumbag.

[stevex47]

CBS hasn't reported on this yet today, but, it looks like the administration is ready for a change to "Stay the Course".

I applaude Petraeus on his honesty and courage. Hopefully, the General can do what the administration couldn't/wouldn't.

[stevex47]

I have to give Bush and maybe Gonzales a little credit for hiring people that will break any law, and corrupt any ethic, all for their "party".

Thanks for wasting my hard earned tax dollars.