Gonzales vows to stay, fix Justice's image

updated 2:49 p.m. ET July 23, 2007

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says he’s staying at the Justice Department to try to repair its broken image, telling Congress in a statement released Monday he’s troubled that politics may have played a part in hiring career federal prosecutors.

Senators already skeptical of Gonzales’ ability to lead the department were preparing to hammer him about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys and conflicts between his earlier statements and the testimony of a former aide.

The attorney general’s comments came in 26 pages of prepared testimony that was released on the eve of his scheduled appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. After months of critics calling for his resignation, Gonzales appears to have weathered the political furor that began with the prosecutors’ purge last year and subsequently revealed a Justice Department hiring process that favored Republican loyalists.

In his written testimony, Gonzales touted the department’s focus on terrorists, violent crime and even aid to the 2005 Hurricane Katrina victims. He made no reference to the fired U.S. attorneys and only briefly mentioned the controversy that has torpedoed morale at the Justice Department and has called the fairness of its attorneys into question.

“Reinforcing public confidence in the department is also critical, and will be one of my top priorities as attorney general for the remainder of my term,” Gonzales said in the prepared statement.

“I believe very strongly that there is no place for political considerations in the hiring of our career employees or in the administration of justice,” he said. “As such, these allegations have been troubling to hear. From my perspective, there are two options available in light of these allegations. I would walk away or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I have never been one to quit, I decided that the best course of action was to remain here and fix the problems.”

Schumer responds
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., was unswayed.

“There are probably only two people on Earth who think the attorney general ought to stay: Alberto Gonzales and President Bush,” Schumer, who was the first senator to call for Gonzales’ resignation, said Monday. “As long as he’s in charge, the Justice Department, the rule of law and America will suffer.”

Gonzales also reminded senators that the Justice Department has launched an internal investigation — one that he has no control over — into the accusations. The results are not expected for months.

It’s against federal law to discriminate against career employees by hiring or firing them based on their political loyalties. But two months ago, former top Gonzales aide Monica Goodling admitted she did just that when she served as the Justice Department’s liaison to the White House — including, at times, looking to see whether job applicants had contributed to the GOP or other political parties.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Divided Senate opens health care debate Poll: GOP voters both united, divided   Party crashers e-mailed Pentagon official Reid: Senate to work weekends on health care   Obama to reveal Afghanistan war plan Senate set for health care debate The Grio: Rep. Rangel faces challenge from former staffer Levin: Afghan forces key to success NYT: White House intruders want to sell tale Newsweek: Why Cheney should run in 2012 Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: