Democrats Grill Gonzales on Firings

May 10, 2007 — -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced another congressional oversight hearing Thursday, but unlike in his Senate testimony, the embattled attorney general didn't seem flustered despite continued scrutiny over how he runs the Justice Department and the controversy over the U.S. attorney firings.

Gonzales told the committee, "I want to assure the American public that nothing improper happened here."

Compared to the verbal beating he took before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April, Gonzales appeared more confident in staying on as the attorney general.

House Republicans Express Support

Republican members of the committee indicated their support for Gonzales, a much different atmosphere from the Senate committee hearing, where he faced bipartisan calls for him to resign.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that former Kansas City U.S. attorney Todd Graves was asked to step down in January 2006 -- months before the eight federal prosecutors were removed, taking the total number of fired U.S. attorneys to nine.

Graves told the Post he was told to resign to "give another person a chance," and said he didn't oppose the request because he was planning to return to private practice.

"Contrary to repeated assurances that the eight U.S. attorneys, whose circumstances we have been examining for the past few months, were the entire list, makes us wonder when we will get the full story," House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., said.

Graves had been looking at a voter fraud case in Missouri.

U.S attorney Bradley Schlozman, Graves' interim replacement, proceeded with the case and brought indictments weeks before the 2006 election, which angered some state Democrats.

Gonzales told the committee that he asked the head of the Civil Rights Division, Assistant Attorney General Wan Kim, who oversaw aspects of the investigation, if he fully supported the indictment. Kim told the attorney general he did, according to Gonzales' testimony.

Gonazles Forges on Amid Partisan Bickering

Asked if the ongoing U.S. attorney investigation was a distraction, Gonzales said, "I have to balance it. … I need to reassure Congress that nothing improper happened," later insisting, "the [Justice[ Department has remained focused."

The Committee members sniped among themselves numerous times during the hearing, and the questioning was limited to five minutes.

On several occasions, Gonzales escaped answering questions because Committee members were too verbose in their questioning.

The early line of questioning resembled a political circus as Republican and Democratic members argued over ongoing Justice Department public corruption cases that targeted different members of Congress.

Rep Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., asked Gonzales if there was an appearance of conflict of interest in the departure of the Los Angeles U.S. attorney Deborah Wong Yang.

Yang left the Justice Department and accepted a $1.5 million signing bonus from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, a law firm representing Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., in a corruption investigation.

Lewis has been linked to the case of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California Republican, who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes while in Congress.

Gonzales said Yang had some financial concerns and had thought about leaving the Department of Justice for some time, but he added that Yang would be recused from the Lewis case at the law firm.

Republican members of the committee objected to Sanchez's identifying Lewis as a target in the investigation.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., countered Sanchez by asking about Rep. William Jefferson, D-La.

Jefferson's home and offices were searched by the FBI in a bribery investigation over Nigerian business contracts.

In an unusual move, Sensenbrenner asked Gonzales when his constituents can expect some news on the case against Jefferson.

"My constituents are asking me when something is going to happen," Sensenbrenner said.

Using a funding threat Sensenbrenner continued, "I'm just interested in finding out when this matter is going to be brought to conclusion, because we authorize and appropriate a heck of a lot of money to run your department, and people are wondering what the dickens is going on."

Gonzales did not directly answer the questions about Jefferson's case.

The strange line of questioning is ironic, since a significant element in the U.S. attorney scandal involved the firing of New Mexico U.S. attorney David Iglesias, who was allegedly asked to speed up an investigation by two members of Congress.

Iglesias testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in March that he was contacted by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., and Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., before the 2006 elections about the investigation.

Iglesias testified that Domenici asked him if state Democratic politicians would be indicted before the 2006 elections.

On an early draft list of which U.S. attorneys should be fired, Igelsias was originally identified as a strong performer but on later lists he was pegged for removal.

In testimony before the House, Gonzales said, in reference to Domenici, "The senior senator had lost confidence in Mr. Iglesias in 2005."

Later in the hearing Conyers asked Gonzales about his discussions with Karl Rove about Igelsias and other U.S. attorneys. "It was not just Iglesias but also the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia." Gonzales said.

Gonzales Keeps Calm

Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., yelled most of his questions at Gonzales, demanding to know who placed David Iglesias on the U.S. attorney "hit list.""The president didn't, the vice president didn't, all the assistant attorney generals didn't … so who did?" Wexler howled.

Gonzales calmly responded, "What's less important is that I accepted a recommendation and I made the decision. I accept responsibility for the decision."

"You know who put them on the list, but you wont tell us," Wexler countered.

Gonzales stayed calm and replied that he "wasn't surprised to see his name on the list."

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., berated the attorney general for incomplete answers, saying, "Your reputation is on the line, Mr. Attorney General. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Gonzales responded, "Congresswoman, what I have to say is that we have provided a lot of information to the Congress about this issue."

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a former assistant U.S. attorney, expressed his displeasure with Gonzales, saying, "For you to say nothing improper was done. … makes me ill," then calling for the attorney general's resignation.

At the end of numerous hours of testimony, Conyers said that the attorney general's incomplete answers only raised more questions about the involvement of the White House in the firings.

"All the breadcrumbs seem to be leading to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue," Conyers said.

Code Pink vs. Boys in Blue

The greatest fireworks during the hearing came from the anti-war group Code Pink.

Before the beginning of the hearing, several protestors from Code Pink were removed by Conyers.

The group taunted Gonzales during his Senate testimony last month. Two protestors dressed in orange Guantanamo-style jumpsuits with hoods on their heads were escorted from the hearing room before testimony began.

Conyers told the protestors, "I don't care about the other hearings. This is the one I'm responsible for."

During a recess, the women tried to re-enter the hearing and battled with committee staff over remaining in their seats.

"What in the world are you afraid of? What can a bunch of old grandmothers do for heaven sakes?" Reba Campbell from California said as she was escorted out by U.S. Capitol Police.

Several women from the group were threatened with arrest if they did not leave, which they eventually did.

As the hearing continued into the afternoon, the women were allowed to return and they quietly sat in the back of the hearing as Gonzales testified.