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!!