Gonzales Holds In-House Pep Talk
By CBS News Justice Department producer Deirdre Hester
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made a surprise appearance before Justice Department employees on Friday to rally the troops and outline reforms within the department. He also reinterated that he has no intention of stepping down.
Gonzales appeared on Justice Vision — an internal videoconferencing feed — to address DOJ employees.
At the outset, Gonzales referred to the ongoing Office of Professional Responsibility and the DOJ Office of Inspector General internal investigations. He stated he was not waiting for the completion of these investigations to fix department problems. He noted recent personnel changes, namely the appointments of Craig Morford as Deputy Attorney General; Gonzales' new Chief of Staff, Kevin O'Connor; and the new director of the Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys, Kenneth E. Melson.
The Attorney General said he has no plans to resign.
"I believe very strongly that there is no place for political considerations in hiring of our career employees or in the administration of justice," he said. "From my perspective, there are two options available in light of these allegations. I could walk away, as some have demanded, or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I've never been one to quit, I've decided that the best course of action was to remain here and fix the problems. That is exactly what I'm doing."
Gonzales claimed that he has worked to ensure his staff has the appropriate experience and judgment necessary to do their jobs. He said he asked his staff to examine and revise procedures to prevent improper politicization of the department, and that the department has changed the hiring practices for the Attorney General's honors program and summer internships program, as well as making changes in the vetting process for hiring U.S. Attorneys.
All of these actions, he said, are intended to reinforce public confidence in the department. Emphasizing the importance of communication, Gonzales also highlighted the trips he's made over the last few months to meet and speak with U.S. Attorneys around the country. He said he had expressed regret about how the hiring of U.S. Attorneys has been handled and promised to pay attention to the Attorneys' concerns. He noted that many of the suggestions he's received in the numerous small meetings he's held are being implemented.
CBS News Justice Department correspondent Bob Orr contributed to this report.