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Dems Ask for Gonzales Perjury Investigation

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July 26, 2007 11:57 AM

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf, Jason Ryan, and Theresa Cook Report:  Senate Democrats have called for a special prosecutor to look into allegations that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied to Congress while testifying about the U.S. attorney firings and the terror surveillance program.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who also led the charge to have a special prosecutor appointed in the CIA Leak investigation, called it a “sad moment” at a Thursday press conference on Capitol Hill, but said “enough is truly enough.”

"For months we have seen the department of justice unravel like a ball of yarn," Schumer said.

Senators Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., sent a letter to the Justice Department’s Solicitor General Wednesday, asking him to take the next step.

DOJ regulations allow the attorney general or deputy attorney general to appoint special counsel.

Since Gonzales has recused himself from the ongoing U.S.attorneys investigation, Solicitor General Paul Clement serves as the acting attorney general when making decisions at that level.

Schumer charged that Gonzales has been at the helm of a department that puts emphasis on "political loyalty" and "fires some of its most talented" attorneys. 

"We all hoped that it wouldn’t come to this,” Schumer said, “but we simply cannot allow this abuse of power any longer."

July 26, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (11)

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This is just another lie comming from the Bush Team. Bush and his people should do a remake of 'lier lier'

Posted by: Jesse | Jul 26, 2007 1:03:26 PM

Regarding the prosecutor firings:
Gonzales has been pretty incompetent in allowing this non-issue to become a crisis through his wormy, evasive, and contradictory statements.

He should taken the approach that John Ashcroft would have--and George Stephanopoulos (step-on-all-of-us actually did, something like this: "Federal prosecutors serve at the President's discretion; they are not confirmed by the Senate. The WH Chief of Staff and AG were involved in the firing decisions. We sacked them. We get to do that. Next question, please."

Posted by: carl | Jul 26, 2007 1:37:13 PM

Did he lie? What a stupid question. The real question should be, does he ever tell the truth? Of course, that question could be asked of this entire criminal administration. This administration has destroyed the credibility of the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court. Dirtiest, worst administration in the history of this country.

Posted by: DaveM | Jul 26, 2007 4:35:41 PM

It appears that John Ashcroft could clear up this perjury issue in a New York second. Why hasn't he been summoned to Capitol Hill and asked directly the conversation and events in his hospital room in 2004?
Ashcroft credentials are above reproach; former state attorney general, former governor, former U.S. Senator and former U.S. Attorney General.
If he states that the terror surveillance program was discussed and confirm statements by the acting AG in his hospital room in 2004 then Alberto Gonzales should be given an hour to resign and to clear out his office! "Others" in the white house should be given into tomorrow at sundown to resign and lawyer-up!

Posted by: Walter Perry | Jul 26, 2007 4:46:38 PM

My question now, is Solicitor General Paul Clement a "loyal Bushie"?

If he is, you might as well forget the Special Prosecutor.

Posted by: rcolescott | Jul 26, 2007 5:24:04 PM

This man cannot go unpunished for this. He needs to go to jail.

Posted by: cliff jones | Jul 26, 2007 10:15:54 PM

Schumer says it absolutely crystal clear: "When he says 'I don't know' about major things in the department, he does not deserve to be Attorney General... There are only two people who think he should be Attorney General--the President and Attorney General Gonzales."

How can you make it any more clear: even if this slimy, duplicitous felon was NOT lying--even if he is "telling the truth" in saying he "doesn't recall"--how does that obliviousness qualify him to retain his post?

And Bush just makes it quite obvious how criminal--HE is by RETAINING an oblivious dunderhead in the post of the highest law office of the land.

What would Ron Paul do?

Posted by: Poffy The Cucumber | Jul 27, 2007 3:04:13 AM

Gonzales had a week's notice about what the committee wanted to talk about, and he came in with an irrelevant opening statement. Then he recused himself from answering questions about what he was supposed to be testifying about, and got members of his own party upset with his evasions. (Special kudos to Arlen Spector for integrity over party.) It was fun to watch, though, especially when he slipped and made a distinction between the 9 firings under question and those fired "for cause."

I think it's incredible that Bush still supports the guy, and can only believe it's because he's a continuing distraction for Congress who, without Gonzales, would have more time to chase other problems.

Posted by: mel | Jul 27, 2007 8:52:13 AM

Better yet.....is congress lying to the public?

This is really all about partisan politics. No one is trying to right wrong.....they simply want to sway the voters in the next election.

Posted by: Rick McDaniel | Jul 27, 2007 2:56:57 PM

Rich McDaniel you must live in a fantasy world. This person isn't even qualified to be AG. He has less smarts than Bush. He has told numerous lies to Congress. He needs to go to jail. This has to do with the rule of law not politics.

Posted by: cliff jones | Jul 27, 2007 9:24:24 PM

Note to Cliff Jones: it is all politics
since there is no longer any rule of law only rule of elected officials who do not listen to those who elected them and are too selfcentered to do anything else. besides it's get rid of the Latino month in Washington.

Posted by: cuznmikie | Jul 30, 2007 1:59:58 AM

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