Alberto Gonzalez on the Ropes

"Today the Department of Justice is experiencing a crisis of leadership perhaps unrivaled during its 137-year history. There's a growing scandal swirling around the dismissal of prosecutors."

So said Sen. Patrick Leahy, Democrat from Vermont, before whose committee Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, began his testimony into the firings of 8 District Attorneys. Before the day was over Gonzalez would repeat more than 70 times the phrase: "I do not recall" in response to questions leveled at him by the committee. Many of the Senators from both parties were less than satisfied with the answers that Gonzalez gave.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) Alabama: "Your ability to lead the Department of Justice is in question, I wish that were not so but I think it certainly is"

Sen Chuck Schumer (D) New York: "If the Attorney General cannot answer a straightforward, factual question from a Senator about recent events, how can he possibly run the Department"

Alberto Gonzalez Attorney General: "It would be improper to remove a US attorney, to interfere with or influence a particular prosecution for partisan political gain, I did not do that, I would never do that"

Below is the video tape of Gonzalez' testimony before the Senate

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=whZbypxjG_4]
"The best way to put this behind us is your resignation," Sen. Tom Coburn, Oklahoma Republican, told Mr. Gonzales during the five-hour hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I believe there's consequences to mistakes," Mr. Coburn said. "The reputation of the attorney general's office has been tarnished and brought into question."

Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, said Mr. Gonzales' "credibility has been impaired" but that he would not call for the attorney general's resignation. "The issue of whether he stays or goes belongs to the president and to the attorney general," he said. White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said President Bush "was pleased with the attorney general's testimony" and continues to have "full confidence" in Mr. Gonzales.