Gonzales Still at Odds With Congress

AP via SFGate ^ | 8/3/7 | LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales late Friday declined to provide more information about discrepancies in his sworn testimony about the purge of federal prosecutors and its aftermath.

Critics say the differences indicate that he misled Congress about his department's purge of federal prosecutors, but Gonzales has denied that.

Still, Gonzales' refusal to clarify the inconsistencies increases the likelihood that lawmakers of both parties will seek ways to pry him from office.

In a two-page letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, Gonzales reiterated his position that alleged violations of the USA Patriot Act were mistakes rather civil liberties abuses. He said he was not aware of any political briefings at the Justice Department akin to those given by White House political aides at other federal agencies.

And he offered a classified briefing on the reason for now-famous hospital visit to Attorney John Ashcroft in 2004.

"I hope that the committee will find this information helpful," Gonzales finished.

Apparently not.

"It is a deeply regrettable that it takes so much work and effort for this attorney general to try to justify answers that appear to remain far short of the full truth the American people should expect from the nation's top law enforcement officer," Leahy, D-Vt., said in a statement.

"This is a non-clarification clarification," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who has called for a special prosecutor.

[hsalaw]

Gonzales Still at Odds With Congress

Other top headlines:

Water Still Wet.

Night Still Dark.

Congressional Dems Still Stupid, Time-Wasting Bunglers With Lower Ratings Than The President.

[MNJohnnie]

Guess maybe Congress should be more worried about their current 3% approval rating over Iraq (Zogby’s latest poll) rather then playing churlish partisan games with the President.