2:19 PM EDT
Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) read a statement that questioned whether a case brought against a Democratic candidate in Milwaukee, which has since been thrown out, was evidence that some attorneys might have kept their jobs by going after baseless cases for the purpose of influencing an election. - Victoria Harper
2:22 PM EDT
Gonzales would not answer detailed questions about the reasons he authorized his former Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson and former Justice Department White House Liaison Monica Goodling to hire and fire interim career prosecutors and staffers at the DOJ. Outside of their work at the DOJ, Goodling and Sampson, both in their 30s, do not have prosecutorial experience and have never set foot in a courtroom. Gonzales signed a secret order last year delegating Sampson and Goodling with extraordinary powers to hire and fire career prosecutors. - Jason Leopold
Gonzales would not answer detailed questions about the reasons he authorized his former Chief of Staff Kyle Sampson and former Justice Department White House Liaison Monica Goodling to hire and fire interim career prosecutors and staffers at the DOJ. Outside of their work at the DOJ, Goodling and Sampson, both in their 30s, do not have prosecutorial experience and have never set foot in a courtroom. Gonzales signed a secret order last year delegating Sampson and Goodling with extraordinary powers to hire and fire career prosecutors. - Jason Leopold
2:28 PM EDT
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) referred to Attorney Genereal Alberto Gonzales as "General" twice. He became the third Republican member of the committee to refer to Gonzales as "General" during today's hearing. - Matt Renner
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) referred to Attorney Genereal Alberto Gonzales as "General" twice. He became the third Republican member of the committee to refer to Gonzales as "General" during today's hearing. - Matt Renner
2:47 PM EDT
After catching Gonzales in an attempt to dissemble, Congressman and former US Attorney Adam Schiff (D-California) had strong words for Gonzales: "Mr. Gonzales, I worked in the department for six years and I love that department. And it makes me ill to see what has happened to it. And for you to come here today and say there is nothing improper about firing a good prosecutor to make room for someone to pad their [sic] resume shows me how little respect you have for the professionals in your charge. I hope you will reconsider your decision and I hope you will resign, because the department is broken and I don't think you're the one to fix it."
Gonzales was trying to explain the statements made by his spokesman with regard to conversations between Gonzales and Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) regarding the performance of US Attorney David Iglesias. The spokesman stated that in the three conversations between Gonzales and Domenici, "no corruption cases were mentioned;" a point that Gonzales mentioned in a press conference soon after. Today and in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gonzales testified that he had discussed a lack of resources for corruption prosecutions with Domenici. Gonzales claimed that statements he and his spokesman made to the press were not at odds with his current testimony because "we did not talk about specific corruption cases." - Matt Renner
After catching Gonzales in an attempt to dissemble, Congressman and former US Attorney Adam Schiff (D-California) had strong words for Gonzales: "Mr. Gonzales, I worked in the department for six years and I love that department. And it makes me ill to see what has happened to it. And for you to come here today and say there is nothing improper about firing a good prosecutor to make room for someone to pad their [sic] resume shows me how little respect you have for the professionals in your charge. I hope you will reconsider your decision and I hope you will resign, because the department is broken and I don't think you're the one to fix it."
Gonzales was trying to explain the statements made by his spokesman with regard to conversations between Gonzales and Sen. Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico) regarding the performance of US Attorney David Iglesias. The spokesman stated that in the three conversations between Gonzales and Domenici, "no corruption cases were mentioned;" a point that Gonzales mentioned in a press conference soon after. Today and in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gonzales testified that he had discussed a lack of resources for corruption prosecutions with Domenici. Gonzales claimed that statements he and his spokesman made to the press were not at odds with his current testimony because "we did not talk about specific corruption cases." - Matt Renner
2:51 PM EDT
After five hours of testimony, the committee has recessed for a House floor vote and will reconvene immediately following the vote. - Victoria Harper
After five hours of testimony, the committee has recessed for a House floor vote and will reconvene immediately following the vote. - Victoria Harper
3:49 PM EDT
The House Judiciary Committee has returned. The testimony of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales continues. - Jason Leopold
The House Judiciary Committee has returned. The testimony of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales continues. - Jason Leopold
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