Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales endured screams of "criminal" and "liar" during a speech at the University of Florida on Monday evening.
About 730 students and community members listened to Gonzales defend his career as White House counsel and head of the Justice Department. He also spoke about immigration and terrorism.
About 730 students and community members listened to Gonzales defend his career as White House counsel and head of the Justice Department. He also spoke about immigration and terrorism.
"No one is perfect. What is important is that we identify our mistakes and correct them," he said.
Gonzales' appearance was the first by a high-profile speaker at the university since a student was Tasered on Sept. 17 at a speech by Sen. John Kerry. An investigation found that campus police acted appropriately, and charges were dropped against the student.
Gonzales resigned earlier this fall in the face of an uproar on Capitol Hill over the dismissals of a slew of federal prosecutors and in connection with the administration's warrantless wiretap program.
Early in his speech, two people climbed on the stage in hoods. Gonzales stopped talking for a few minutes as police led them away without incident, though there were several outbursts from the crowd.
The hooded demonstrators were charged with interruption of a public event, said Steve Orlando, a university spokesman. Several other people were ejected for yelling, and more than a dozen people stood for most of Gonzeles' hour-long speech with their backs toward him.
Gonzales repeatedly defended the Bush administration's treatment of foreign prisoners.
"We don't condone torture," he said.
Students were not allowed to ask questions directly, as they were at the Kerry event. Instead questions were submitted and read by a university law professor. One question asked about Gonzales' views on immigration.
"Because of 9-11, we have to get this right. We have to know who is in this country," he said.
Gonzales also said it was perfectly appropriate to replace U.S. attorneys, because they are political appointees.
Gonzales also said it was perfectly appropriate to replace U.S. attorneys, because they are political appointees.
University officials said it was Gonzales' first appearance at a university since he left office in late August. He was paid $40,000 for his speech.
A few protesters carried signs protesting the appearance.
"It is abhorrent that they would spend that amount of money. This man is a criminal," said Glenda Allen, of Jacksonville.
Embattled former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was a few minutes into his speech Monday night when the first two protesters took the stage, their heads covered and hands tied behind their backs like Abu Ghraib prisoners.
1 comment:
Well this is the only way Gonzo can get money now my letting people make a fool of him in public. Oh how the mighty have fallen. As people know just how low Gonzo will go for a buck watch other colleges get him and make a fool of him too.
Pay back is a b-tch isn't it.
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