July 29, 2007
Posted: 09:23 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN)–Another Republican Congressman has spoken out against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Rep. Chris Shays (R - Connecticut) said today on Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, "He doesn't have much credibility. And he would do us all a favor if he stepped down and allowed the president to select someone else. You need to be truthful to Congress. You can't be inaccurate so often. Finally, there just builds up this incredible credibility gap."

Shays is the latest in a series of Republicans to suggest Gonzales should step down from his post. The Attorney General has come under fire for the firing of U.S. attorneys, which critics say happened for political reasons.

–CNN Associate Producer Jennifer Burch

Filed under: Alberto Gonzales


Marilyn Garis   July 29th, 2007 3:44 pm ET

According to the House Judiciary
report on the findings to date in the USA purge lists the following crimes and violations that may have been committed in the course of the USA firings:

Obstruction of justice, attempted obstruction of justice [18 USC 1503, 1505, 1512(c)(2)]
Criminal Hatch Act violations [18 USC 606]
Presidential failure to ensure that laws are faithfully executed [Constitution, Article II, Section 3]
Civil Hatch Act violations [5 USC 7323(a)(1)]
Federal Civil Rights laws [18 USC 242]
Conspiracy [18 USC 2, 371]
Perjury [18 USC 1621]
False Statements [18 USC 1001]

Hardley political reasons and this does not include the David Iglesias firing which involves elected officials speaking with the president.

erika morgan black dimond wa   July 29th, 2007 3:47 pm ET

Gonzo won't step down, and Georgie won't ask him to. He is there to do Georgie's and Dickie's bidding as he is too stupid to realize he is being played for the sucker he is. The man doesn't even have any idea what integrity is let alone the ability to try to find some. Evidentially his former boss Ashcroft got some when he had to plan to possibly face his maker over his health problems, that is what led Ashcroft to resign.

ACF, Boston, MA   July 29th, 2007 4:18 pm ET

Every now and then, Shays likes to speak moderately, the problem is that when the time comes to register a vote, he reliably comes down on the side of his party leadership and Bush. Therefore, take what he says with a grain of salt, and watch what he does, not listen to what he says.

ANN ZIMMER, STAUNTON, VA   July 29th, 2007 4:33 pm ET

BU$H IS BEING USED TOO ONLY HE IS TO STUPID TO REALIZE IT. HIS APPOINTEES ARE ALL HAND SELECTED BY CHENEY AND ROVE AND CORPORATE UNAMERICA. CORPORATE UNAMERICA LIKE STUPID PRESIDENTS AS THEY FALL PREY TO FLATTERY AND MONEY AND THAT IS WHAT THE GOP IS ALL ABOUT…BEING TOO STUPID OR TOO RICH.

Sean McAuley, Portland, Oregon   July 29th, 2007 4:46 pm ET

We need to start over. Our Government has grown too powerful for the people to control and that my friends is not Freedom, it's tyranny. I say wipe the books and write new rules taking into consideration all of the abuses of power we have seen and put the final decision in the hands of the people - we should be the decider not the commander in chief. Since it has been shown that the consolidation of power in the hands of fraction of the people leads to corruption, all decisions and laws should be local - that way we have easy access to anyone who tries to coruppt the system and we wouldn't have to sit around feeling helpless in a system that treats the people like the enemy.

T. Swift   July 29th, 2007 5:04 pm ET

Marilyn - can you post a link to the House Judiciary report?

FG, Fort Pierce, FL   July 29th, 2007 5:14 pm ET

It's time to re-ratify the Constitution.

This single political act will wipe every federal law, employee and elected official from the books. The people will have to elect a new House, Senate and Executive. The first order of the new executive will be to nominate an entire Supreme Court, Federal Bench, Attorneys General etc. Every tax, law and governmental department, including the Pentagon, will be gone.

Wisely done, the best of the existing organizations can roll over into the new government with an eye to keeping the neo-cons from power — they are our Nazi's and they don't have a valid political philosophy that benefits America - they should never be allowed power again.

We may as well admit it, the Republic is gone and those that stole it will never give it back. As far as they're concerned they stole it fair and square. As far as we're concerned, if we keep playing their game with their government we'll never beat them at any level.

Again, it's time to re-ratify the Constitution.

MCD, San Francisco, CA   July 29th, 2007 5:35 pm ET

From his testimoney you can come to only two conclusions:

1. He is bush's toady.
2. He is completely incompetent.

No wait, there is a third:

3. All of the above.

Francis V. Scalzi   July 29th, 2007 6:21 pm ET

Bush's lackey, Gonzales, was chosen as AG for Cheney/Bush's own selfish purposes. The Bush White House cares not one whit for the Republican Party, only their own hides. That's also why they have packed the federal court system and the Supreme Court — along with every cabinet office and agency of the government with their own operatives; i.e., for thier own protection. As far as Cheney/Rove/Bush are concerned, the Republican Party can go to hell - - and that's exactly what's happening. Republican senators and other members of the Congress are finally waking up to that fact. But it's too late. Voting for all of Bush's measures without thought, reservation, or even common sense has paved the way for their return in the future as the minority party. And Bush couldn't care less, but it's more likely, given frequent indications, that he simply doesn't know any better. We have never had such a moron occupying the oval office - - and the Republican Party has only itself to blame.

Robert, New York & Miami, Florida   July 29th, 2007 6:29 pm ET

Remember fellows, Baby Sitter, Cheney is in charge.

George is way too stupid.

Joe, Medford, OR   July 29th, 2007 8:08 pm ET

This is increcible! If Gonzo were in the employ of a private company (those Dubya seems to favor so much), he would have been shown the door LONG ago. What exactly is the delay with this? It boggles the mind,

Matt Connolly   July 29th, 2007 8:25 pm ET

I'm not sure Gonzales can be indicted for perjury since from all it appears there may have been more than on intelligence type programs under discussion at any one time.
But he certainly can be condemned for not being forthright with Congress. He is obviously delighting in playing games with the members of Congress as is Tony Snow his spokesperson. But what they are really doing is treating us Americans with contempt. If the programs are so top secret that the general public cannot know about them, which is somewhat frightening in a democracy, at least they should be delineated program A, B, C etc. Then questions can be asked whether Ashcroft was being asked about program A or B. Once Gonzales settled that, then the other witnesses can be recalled to an inquired of with specifics. Right now Gonzales smiles as if he is the dealer in a three card Monte game. We should expect more from our Administration.

John Dougherty, Royersford, PA   July 29th, 2007 8:27 pm ET

Shays: "You need to be truthful to Congress. You can't be inaccurate so often." - I don't think Shays is upset that Gonzales lied to Congress - just that he is a bad liar. Any good liar knows you need to sprinkle some truth in - here and there - just to make the lies sound credible. And it is telling that Shays would consider it a "favor" - and not a responsibility - for Gonzales to resign in light of his many "inaccuracies".

Ian, Columbus Ohio   July 29th, 2007 10:33 pm ET

Bush is too power-hungry, bush is too arrogant, but to say that "Bush is too stupid" is playing the card we've been dealt. Take a look at his early debates as Texas governer, some having taken place just a little over ten years ago. He was an intellegent and quick witted debator, and though I disagree with his stance on nearly every issue, he deserved some semblance of respect for his former eloquence. Currently he is being portrayed and parading as the "idiot in office", and it seems to me a perfect scheme to blame ignorance instead of choice. Bad intellegence instead of malicious contempt. Just don't be played into thinking he is merely a pawn. Really watch his early debates. He is a failure now, but remember, he was a failure in October 2004 as well.

godiva, hickory, nc   July 30th, 2007 2:34 am ET

Write your senator at http://www.senate.gov and demand that something be done. Despite what Pelosi has said, impeachment proceedings should be enacted.

Bill Tchakirides   July 30th, 2007 10:36 am ET

Interesting that this comes from Shays who, just prior to the last election, everyone thought would trend to moderacy but in the end he continued to support Bush accross the board.

He's up for election again, and this time it is going to be so much harder for him to hold his seat, so he is trying to look moderate now in his comments on Gonzales.

Does this mean he would vote for impeachment of the A.G.? Hardly. Shays is all talk and not to be counted on.

Under The Lobsterscope

Jack Mack, New York, NY   July 30th, 2007 11:35 am ET

MAY have been committed. All of this vitriol and accusatory rant, without anything but hearsay evidence.

David, Gilbert Arizona   July 30th, 2007 1:10 pm ET

I remember when Gonzales was revered as a Hispanic role model. Even if no charges are filed against the AG the simple fact that America distrusts every word that comes out of his mouth makes him ineffective.

Not much of a role model if you ask me.

bprosserme   July 30th, 2007 6:40 pm ET

And you would do us a favor if you kept your puppet mouthings to yourself.

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