Gonzales Faces Skepticism From Lawmakers

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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/04/19/ap3631037.html

Gonzales Faces Skepticism From Lawmakers
By LAURIE KELLMAN 04.19.07, 11:50 AM ET


His job in jeopardy, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales insisted Thursday he played only a small role in the dismissal of eight federal prosecutors. Skeptical senators reacted with disbelief.

"We have to evaluate whether you are really being forthright," Sen. Arlen Specter bluntly informed the nation's chief law enforcement officer.

The Pennsylvania Republican said Gonzales' description was "significantly if not totally at variance with the facts."

"I don't want to quarrel with you," Gonzales replied after Specter asked again whether his was a fair, honest characterization.

The exchange punctuated a long morning in the witness chair for Gonzales, who told the committee there was no impropriety in last winter's firings and the decision was "justified and should stand."

Gonzales conceded that "reasonable people might disagree" with the decision. He said the process by which the U.S. attorneys were dismissed was "nowhere near as rigorous or structured as it should have been."

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