Declaring “the attorney general broke no law,” President Bush expressed support Monday for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the wake of the administration’s controversial firings of federal prosecutors.
The vote of confidence came four days after Gonzales was grilled by Democratic and Republican senators about the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. Critics say the firings were overly political, but Bush has defended Gonzales and the Justice Department.
“As the investigation or the hearings went forward, it was clear that the attorney general broke no law, did no wrongdoing,” Bush told reporters in the Oval Office Monday. “Some senators didn’t like his explanation, but he answered as honestly as he could.”
One of those who didn’t like Gonzales’ explanation was Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The attorney general’s testimony was very, very damaging to his own credibility,” Specter told Fox News Sunday.
He said Gonzales was damaging the Bush administration by not stepping down.
“No doubt it is bad for the Department of Justice — it is harmful,” he said. “There has been a very substantial decrease in morale.”
Bush said Gonzales answered senators’ questions “in a way that increased my confidence in his ability to do the job.”
The president’s remarks further tamped down speculation that Gonzales would lose his job over the flap. Although Bush has expressed displeasure with the way the Justice Department notified Congress of the firings, he does not appear eager to dismiss Gonzales.
“The attorney general has a right to recommend to me to replace U.S. attorneys,” Bush said. “U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president.”
