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AG Tries to Set the Record Straight
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ShareAugust 01, 2007 7:03 PM
ABC News' Jason Ryan and Theresa Cook Report: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales sent a letter to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday to clarify his July 24 testimony before the panel.
Democrats have charged that the beleaguered Gonzales lied to Congress under oath, after members of Congress, a former Deputy Attorney General and the FBI director seemed to contradict his testimony. Senate Democrats have called for a perjury investigation, and House Democrats are seeking support for an impeachment measure.
In the letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Gonzales says he is "deeply concerned with suggestions that my testimony was misleading."
Gonzales' explanation for any discrepancies tracks closely with Justice Department and White House statements about the matter, pointing to the possibility that members of Congress could easily misconstrue testimony about top secret spy programs.
"I have tried to provide frank answers without disclosing classified information," the letter stated.
But Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said in a Wednesday briefing that he "categorically" disagreed with that assertion.
Calling Gonzales' July 24 appearance a "cat and mouse game," Specter said, "I don't think he did try to provide frank answers... He did not tell the whole truth."
Specter, however, has not joined Democrats' push for a perjury investigation.
Gonzales' wrapped up the letter, saying "I hope this explanation is helpful to the Committee's understanding of my testimony." He continued, writing, “Please understand, however, that I remain bound not to reveal classified information and therefore cannot discuss in this public letter all of the details that may be helpful to a full understanding of these matters."
The attorney general closed the letter by saying the Justice Department could arrange a classified briefing for Leahy if he had further questions.
Before the letter was released publicly, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., told ABC News, "It's going to take an extraordinary effort to exert a kernel of truth from that cloud of obfuscation."
Whitehouse, a freshman Senator, is a former United States Attorney and is a member of the Senate's Judiciary and Intelligence Committees.
The letter also comes before the Thursday deadline for White House advisor Karl Rove to comply with a subpoena to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee and testify about the White House’s role in last year's controversial firings of nine U.S. attorneys.
There are conflicting reports about whether Scott Jennings, Karl Rove's deputy, will make an appearance. Wednesday night, White House Counsel Fred Fielding issued a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee notifying the panel that the President is exercising a claim of executive privilege regarding the testimony.
The letter from Fielding specifically cites Rove, noting that he is an immediate presidential advisor and therefore is "immune and compelled from congressional testimony."
This all comes as the Department of Justice released another 40 pages of e-mails on the firings to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, which is also looking into the Bush administration’s controversial warrantless wiretapping program.
ABC News' Jennifer Duck and Bret Hovell contributed to this report.
August 1, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (1)
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Another Bushie that needs to be put in jail. He thumbs his nose at the American public and we do nothing to him. Same for Rumsfeld. When talking to the Congressional hearing about what he knew about Tillman's death, he said he has a hard time remembering. He had the biggest Cheshire cat grin on him when he said it. Thumbing his nose at the American public. Put him in jail for some time to wipe that smug look off of him.
Posted by: joe | Aug 3, 2007 3:03:15 AM
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