Federal Government

GOP Senator: It’s Bush’s Call on Gonzales

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., told Fox News Sunday that Alberto Gonzales’ continued presence is “bad for the Justice Department,” but it’s up to President Bush to decide whether to demand a resignation, the New York Times reports. Specter is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating…

Apr 23, 2007 1:18 PM CDT

Walls Breaking Down Between WH and DOJ, Hearings Reveal

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week highlighted a policy shift in his administration that gave White House officials increased access to the Justice Department, according to an analysis in Legal Times. Former Attorney General Janet Reno had issued a memo in 1994 that limited…

Apr 23, 2007 12:19 PM CDT

What Now? Gonzales Failing, But Only Bush Has Firing Power

Yesterday’s all-day hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the eight U.S. attorneys allegedly fired for political reasons struck many observers as a blistering bipartisan attack. It not only failed to restore U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ fast-dwindling credibility but left him looking worse than ever as he repeatedly equivocated…

Apr 20, 2007 10:01 AM CDT

Hearing: Gonzales Says Firings Justified

Fighting to save his job, embattled U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales today told the Senate Judiciary Committee that he had not fired eight prosecutors for political reasons. “I would not do that, I would never do that,” he said. In a case-by-case review, Gonzales—in what one committee member termed a “reconfirmation”…

Apr 19, 2007 8:06 PM CDT

Multiple Senators Ask AG to Resign

Under often heated questioning from Senators, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales held firm on his stance that the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys were proper, though poorly handled.

Apr 19, 2007 3:44 PM CDT

Gonzales to Testify Today

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is expected to testify today that he may have been imprecise in statements about the firings of eight U.S attorneys, but he never intended to mislead the American people.

Apr 19, 2007 12:00 PM CDT

Harriet Miers Rejoins Texas Firm

Former White House counsel Harriet Miers is rejoining her Texas law firm. Miers, a former chair of the ABA Journal Board of Editors, will be back at her desk at Locke Liddell & Sapp on May 1, according to reports in Texas Lawyer and the Dallas Morning News. Managing partner…

Apr 18, 2007 5:16 PM CDT

House Eyes Immunity for ex-DOJ Aide

The House Judiciary Committee is considering whether to grant limited immunity to Monica Goodling, who was White House liaison for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Bloomberg News reports. Goodling has cited the Fifth Amendment in refusing to testify before Congress about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys. Judiciary Committee Chairman John…

Apr 18, 2007 2:26 PM CDT

Bush: Prosecute Crimes, Don’t Restrict Guns

Weighing in today on the gun control debate ignited Monday by the massacre at Virginia Tech, the White House said President Bush will “participate” in the discussion. However, a statement by spokeswoman Dana Perino seemingly suggested that the president may stay the course on his oft-repeated call to prosecute crimes…

Apr 17, 2007 8:41 PM CDT

Legal Stories Win Pulitzers for Publications

Prestigious Pulitzer prizes for outstanding journalism were announced today, several for legal reporting. Among the winners, according to the Pulitzer Web site: The Wall Street Journal (in the public service category), for its probe of backdated stock options. Links to the articles are provided on the Wall Street Journal Web…

Apr 17, 2007 12:03 AM CDT

Poll: Almost Half Say Gonzales Should be Fired

The public is divided on whether U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should be forced out because of his handling of the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. Forty-five percent of those surveyed said Gonzales should lose his job, and 39 percent said he should…

Apr 16, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

Millions of White House E-mails Lost?

A spokeswoman announced today that perhaps 5 million White House e-mails may have been lost during a computer conversion years ago. Reuters reports that spokeswoman Dana Perino “said a White House review showed up to 5 million e-mails to and from as many as 1,700 executive branch employees might have…

Apr 13, 2007 9:42 PM CDT

Executive Privilege Clash Over Missing E-mail?

Controversy continues over thousands of apparently deleted White House e-mails sought by Congress in connection with the recent firing of eight U.S. Attorneys. An executive privilege clash may be looming, the New York Times reports, particularly if the White House attempts to assert it over e-mails that were sent and…

Apr 13, 2007 8:17 AM CDT

White House E-Mail Messages May Be Lost

The White House says it may have lost what could be thousands of official messages from a private e-mail system, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Apr 12, 2007 2:49 PM CDT