Gonzales Admits ‘Mistakes’ but Won’t Resign

On Tuesday, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced there was “direct evidence” that Alberto Gonzales was politically motivated to order the firing of U.S. attorneys. The attorney general admitted that “mistakes were made here,” but said he had no plans to resign.

New York Times:

WASHINGTON, March 13—Under criticism from lawmakers of both parties for the dismissals of federal prosecutors, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales insisted Tuesday that he would not resign but said, “I acknowledge that mistakes were made here.”

The mea culpa came as Congressional Democrats, who are investigating whether the White House was meddling in Justice Department affairs for political reasons, demanded that President Bush and his chief political adviser, Karl Rove, explain their roles in the dismissals.

With Mr. Bush traveling in Mexico, the White House insisted that the president’s role had been minimal and laid the blame primarily on Harriet E. Miers, who was White House counsel when the prosecutors lost their jobs and who stepped down in January.

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