Fredo alert! Where art thou Fredo?

Thinkprogress:

This morning, Michael Mukasey was officially sworn in as the 81st Attorney General of the United States. At the beginning of his remarks, President Bush thanked officials for joining him, including former Attorneys General John Ashcroft and Dick Thornburgh. Missing from the ceremony? Alberto Gonzales:

BUSH: Thank you all for coming. And thank you for making sure this good man not only made it to the floor of the Senate, but was confirmed.

I want to thank former Attorney General John Ashcroft, and welcome John, as well as former Attorney General Dick Thornburgh.

Thank you all for coming.

No word on whether Gonzales declined Bush’s invitation or was never invited.

*cricket, cricket*

Update: Here is an excerpt of Bush's speech at Mukasky's swearing as AG:

BLT:

"As our new attorney general, Michael Mukasey follows in the footsteps of a fine man and a fine American -- Al Gonzales. I have known Al since our days working together in the State of Texas.

"As White House counsel and as attorney general in my administration, Al Gonzales worked tirelessly to make this country safer and to ensure that all Americans received equal justice before the law. Over many years, I have witnessed his integrity, his decency, and his deep dedication to the cause of justice. I am grateful for his friendship. I thank him for his service to our nation."

Justice Department employees applauded just as loudly after Bush recognized Gonzales' work and that of former acting Attorney General Peter Keisler, who is leaving the department unsure of his immediate future. His nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has stalled in the Senate.

Mukasey was accompanied by his wife Rebecca, son Marc -- a former assistant U.S. attorney in New York -- daughter Jessica, son-in-law Corey, and his grandsons William and Benjamin, who earlier led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dignitaries in attendance included Sens. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and former attorneys general John Ashcroft and Dick Thornburgh. Also seated near the front were FBI Director Robert Mueller and ex-FBI Director Louis Freeh, a former Southern District of New York judge and friend of Mukasey's.