A recap of Gonzo's testimony by the News Junkie

Gonzales Can't Recall Meetings That Led to Attorney Firings
By Jason Leopold
t r u t h o u t Report
April 19, 2007

Embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales testified Thursday before aSenate committee that he could not recall the details of any of the meetingshe participated in over the course of two years, in which he and his staffdiscussed a plan to fire eight US attorneys.


"I have searched my memory," Gonzales said, in response to a question bySen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) about one meeting Gonzales attended inNovember 2006 when he discussed the firings. "I have no recollection of themeeting.... I don't remember the contents of this meeting."


Gonzales was visibly defensive as a frustrated group of bipartisansenators pounded the attorney general with some tough questions about hisrole in firings. Throughout the daylong hearing, Gonzales testified morethan 70 times that he could not recall any part of the conversations ordetails of the backdoor meetings he had with White House officials ormembers of his staff surrounding the questionable dismissals of the USattorneys. He added that he could not recall whether he had certainconversations over the telephone or in person.


Immediately following Gonzales's testimony, Sen. Chuck Schumer D-NewYork) said that if Gonzales wanted to restore integrity and credibility tothe Department of Justice, he would "look into his heart, he would marchover to Pennsylvania Avenue and submit his resignation."

"One thing I can assure you of is this is not over," Schumer said. "Farfrom it. There [are] so many loose ends in terms of their privilegeargument. The claims of privilege almost never work. If you look at thetimes [the issue of executive privilege] has gone to court, it is usuallyresolved in months, not years," meaning the senator will pursue the issue,even if the committee fails to come to an agreement with the White House onRove's and Miers's testimony and it ends up in court. More on the story.