Gonzales Apologizes for 'Honest' Mistakes

April 15, 2007 — -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales apologized to the eight U.S. attorneys who were let go since he began his tenure in a statement released today, just two days before he is expected to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"I apologize to them and to their families for allowing this matter to become an unfortunate and undignified public spectacle, and I am sorry for my missteps that have helped to fuel the controversy," Gonzales' testimony read.

Democrats believe the U.S. attorneys were fired because they were targeting Republicans and dragging their feet on investigating Democratic politicians.

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In his statement, Gonzales remained adamant that nothing illegal or improper happened. He called his mistakes "honest" and not "intentional acts of misconduct," and said he wants to address the concerns of Congress because he has "nothing to hide."

"I know that I did not, and would not, ask for a resignation of any individual in order to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain," he added.

After writing that the fired U.S. attorneys had "simply lost" his confidence in a March opinion piece for USA Today, Gonzales is now calling them fine lawyers.

The attorney general admitted that he should have been more precise when he claimed that he "not involved in any discussions about" firing the attorneys.

Gonzales acknowledged that the statement, which was later contradicted by his former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, was too broad. Instead, the attorney general said he was involved in discussions from time to time, though not intimately.

Gonzales now says he should have been more personally engaged in the process.

But his statement, which offers little information as to why the attorneys were fired, does not satisfy Democratic senators who will be grilling him Tuesday.

"The opening statement of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales does not advance his cause at all," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "So the questions he is asked and the answers he will give on Tuesday will be make or break for him."

Even some Republicans are admitting that Gonzales' performance on Tuesday will be critical in determining whether he can keep his job.

"Well, he has been wounded," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told "Fox News Sunday." "He has got an uphill struggle to reestablish his credibility with the committee, given prior statements."

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who is a ranking member on the Judiciary Committee, told ABC News' "This Week" that Gonzales has some explaining to do.

"The number one question is: Is he capable of administering the Department of Justice? Did he [perform] enough of hands-on to know what was happening, and can he explain why these individuals were asked to resign and justify the reasons for doing so?" Specter said.

ABC News' Ariane de Vogue contributed to this report.