Gonzales Said He Would Quit in Raid Dispute

[truthpusher]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/washington/27inquire.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=bdb72883b813538b&hp=&ex=1148702400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

May 27, 2006

Gonzales Said He Would Quit in Raid Dispute

By DAVID JOHNSTON and CARL HULSE

WASHINGTON, May 26 — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, F.B.I. Director Robert S. Mueller III and senior officials and career prosecutors at the Justice Department told associates this week that they were prepared to quit if the White House directed them to relinquish evidence seized in a bitterly disputed search of a House member's office, government officials said Friday.

Mr. Gonzales was joined in raising the possibility of resignation by the deputy attorney general, Paul J. McNulty, the officials said. Mr. Gonzales and Mr. McNulty told associates that they had an obligation to protect evidence in a criminal case and would be unwilling to carry out any White House order to return the material to Congress.

The potential showdown was averted Thursday when President Bush ordered the evidence to be sealed for 45 days to give Congress and the Justice Department a chance to work out a deal.

The evidence was seized by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents last Saturday night in a search of the office of Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana. The search set off an uproar of protest by House leaders in both parties, who said the intrusion by an executive branch agency into a Congressional office violated the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine. They demanded that the Justice Department return the evidence.

The possibility of resignations underscored the gravity of the crisis that gripped the Justice Department as the administration grappled with how to balance the pressure from its own party on Capitol Hill against the principle that a criminal investigation, especially one involving a member of Congress, should be kept well clear of political considerations.

(snip)

link: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/27/washington/27inquire.html?_r=1&ei=5094&en=bdb72883b813538b&hp=&ex=1148702400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin

[wiley]

1. Gonzales should quit anyway

[Patchuli]

2. Oh please do quit!!!!

But you know * wouldn't let his ol' buddy go and he has no intention of seeing the right thing done anyway, as usual. Unfortunately, that talk is just bluff...

[alarimer]

3. This is about Jefferson, right?

This Justice Dept. will block any investigation into Republican crimes but want crimes involving Democrats to be thoroughly investigated? They have already made it political and can be trusted in NOTHING. How do we know the Jefferson thing is not just a witch hunt to get some Democrat? Maybe they planted evidence.. I simply don't trust anyone in this administration.

[Heidi]

4. Locking.

Duplicate of: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2308929