US attorney furor: no end in sight

[babylonsister]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0417/p01s01-uspo.html

US attorney furor: no end in sight
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testifies before Congress Tuesday in a crucial moment for the Bush administration.
By Peter Grier | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

Washington - Whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales remains in his job or not, the furor over fired US prosecutors seems set to continue for weeks to come.

That's because key members of Congress say that they'll press for documents related to the case, and for further information about possible White House involvement, regardless of who heads the Department of Justice.

The matter of the prosecutors has thus expanded from a narrow inquiry into a multiheaded investigation that could result in direct legal conflict between the legislative and executive branches of the US government.

"This is just not going to go away," says Norman Ornstein, a political scientist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Mr. Gonzales's April 17 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee (which was set to occur after Monitor deadlines) still remains a crucial moment, both for himself and the administration.

Thus the Justice Department took the unusual step of releasing Gonzales's prepared testimony two days prior to his actual appearance. That helped ensure at least one day of news coverage that centered on the main point he apparently wishes to make: that he has "nothing to hide" about the dismissals of the eight US attorneys, but also has a hazy memory about his involvement in the firing process.

Judiciary panel members said that the testimony was not specific enough, and that Gonzales would have to answer questions about why particular individuals were asked to resign if he wanted to regain their trust.

more...

[panader0]

1. "hazy memory"? he had a late night with shrub..... n/t

[damntexdem]

2. The gift that keeps on giving.

But there could be a definite end: impeachment and conviction.

[annabanana]

3. "This is just not going to go away," says Norman Ornstein

That's right Norm. So you can just go tuck yourself back into your paneled room at AEI, hunker down and wait it out.

With any luck, when the shit storm settles, no one will ask AEI for any more "expert" opinions..