Republican senators question Gonzales' dishonesty

March 26, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Republican Senator Arlen Specter Sunday questioned whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales "has been candid" about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, while another said the issue has left a "cloud" over the Justice Department chief due to his dishonesty.

Republican Senator Arlen Specter Sunday questioned whether Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been candid about the firings of eight U.S. attorneys, while another said the issue has left a cloud over the Justice Department chief due to his dishonesty.

Specter, the ranking GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that Gonzales would have a chance to "present his case," but had some explaining to do. The attorney general is scheduled to appear before the committee on April 17.

"We have to have an attorney general who is candid, truthful," he said. "And if we find he has not been candid and truthful, that's a very compelling reason for him not to stay on."

President Bush has said he stands solidly behind Gonzales, who served as White House counsel before becoming attorney general in 2005. But two other Republican lawmakers -- Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, and Chuck Hagel, of Nebraska -- also expressed doubt about Gonzales' credibility Sunday.

Gonzales has said he had a limited role in the December firings, which have triggered a dispute between Congress and the White House over the testimony of top presidential aides.

After the resignation of his chief of staff, the attorney general told reporters that he "was not involved in seeing any memos, was not involved in any discussions about what was going on."