Gonzales could be prosecuted, McKay says (Disgruntled Ex-U.S. Attorney)

Spokane Spokesman-Review ^ | October 20, 2007 | Bill Morlin

[nj26]

The U.S. Inspector General may recommend criminal prosecution of departed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the conclusion of an investigation, possibly as early as next month, the fired former U.S. attorney for Western Washington told a Spokane audience Friday....

McKay said he was summoned to Washington, D.C., in June and questioned for eight hours about possible reasons for his firing by investigators with the Office of Inspector General, who will forward their final report to Congress.

“My best guess is it will be released sometime next month,’’ and likely will include recommendations for criminal prosecutions of Gonzales and maybe others, McKay said.

Gonzales “lied about” reasons for the firings when questioned under oath in July by the Senate Judiciary Committee and now has hired a lawyer and is refusing to answer questions from the Inspector General, McKay said.

The White House said McKay was fired for poor performance ratings of his office, but the ex-U.S. attorney said he and his office got exemplary reviews just three months before he was fired.

“The chief law enforcement officer for the United States should not lie under oath,’’ McKay told the bar association.

It was reported last week that Gonzales has now retained a high-profile defense lawyer, and apparently is refusing to answer questions from the Inspector General, which could signify the investigation is nearly complete, McKay said.

[nj26]

This seems like a smear campaign by a disgruntled ex-employee to me, but worth watching..

[Political Junkie Too]

See what Gonzales gets for treating Sandy Berger with kid gloves?

The lesson is never, ever make deals with Democrats, especially Clintonites.

-PJ

[Eagles6]

“The chief law enforcement officer for the United States should not lie under oath,’’

Is he referring to clinton?

[HawaiianGecko]

  The White House said McKay was fired for poor performance ratings of his office, but the ex-U.S. attorney said he and his office got exemplary reviews just three months before he was fired.

This statement is totally meaningless, I've fired dozens of people for poor performance yet gave them rave reviews so they'd be hired by someone else.

[calcowgirl]

Based on the hearings, various articles, and reading thousands of pages of emails, I disagree. I hope they string Alberto up by his ankles. Based on the performance of he and his cohorts, I lost total faith in our justice system. (Yes—Janet Reno and Jamie Gorelick did the same thing, but I expect more out of Republicans).

There was a pretty good interview with Carol Lam (fired US Atty from San Diego) in the Stanford Lawyer the other day.

http://www.law.stanford.edu/publications/stanford_lawyer/issues/77/LegalMatters.html

[maine-iac7]

criminal prosecutions of Gonzales and maybe others, McKay said.

Still trying to get to Pres. Bush, Chaney, ANYONE they can take down -

Democrats operate like the Sicilian Mafia - Vendettas to the end - while they get nothing else done

[Brad from Tennessee]

Largest case of voter fraud in Washington State history?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003808207_votefraud27m.html

[fhayek]

It’s just surreal. Democrats sitting around, smoking pot, and filling out fraudulent voter registration cards. Doesn’t surprise me though...

[rockrr]

McKay was an arrogant worthless POS that got what he deserved. Gonzales? Don’t make me repeat myself!

[Caipirabob]

Gonzalez acted like a lamb in office and now the wolves are closing in...

[highball]

Based on the hearings, various articles, and reading thousands of pages of emails, I disagree. I hope they string Alberto up by his ankles. Based on the performance of he and his cohorts, I lost total faith in our justice system. (Yes—Janet Reno and Jamie Gorelick did the same thing, but I expect more out of Republicans).

Amen on all counts.

He's a scumbag through and through, unworthy of the public trust. I expect better from Republicans.

[calcowgirl]

Thanks. I guess you and I are in the minority here.

[Dead Corpse]

Of all the things I could think of the Alberto SHOULD be prosecuted for...

The firings of those leftist lawyers isn't one of them. If Alberto does get charged with some violation, then we need charges from when Clintoon dumped 93 of them...

[calcowgirl]

1. They weren’t leftists
2. Bush fired all the US attys when he came into office, just as Clinton did. The two scenarios are not comparable.

[17th Miss Regt]

Bush fired all the US attys when he came into office, just as Clinton did.

This does not sound correct, The press would have had a field day with this story. Never mind that Clinton did it. It would have been the evil Bush then.

[Dead Corpse]

Bush fired all the US attys when he came into office

Got a link to this? From everything I've heard and read, he didn't.

[calcowgirl]

Here is how Kyle Sampson (Gonzales ex-Chief of Staff) described it in emails released during this fiasco:

• “Clinton fired all Bush USAs in one fell swoop. Has been described to me as ‘have your offices cleared out by the end of the week.’ We fired all Clinton USAs (except Mueller and Warner), but staggered it more and permitted some to stay on for, several months (including Mary Jo White in SDNY who we permitted to stay on for many months).”
[email March 04, 2007]

• “Reagan U.S. Attorneys appointed in 1981 stayed on through the entire Reagan Administration; Bush41 even had to establish that Reagan-appointed U.S. Attorneys would not be permitted to continue on through the Bush41 Administration.”
[email January 09, 2005]

[Dead Corpse]

Er... doesn’t support your assertion...

[calcowgirl]

Yes. It does.
As do a wealth of other articles citing emails and the historical record.

Read up!

[Dead Corpse]

All I'm finding is that Harriet Miers recommended firing all 93 of Clintons goons, but then either let them attrition out, resign, or with the 8 in question... outright fired them. They serve at the Presidents discretion.

I fail to see a problem here...