U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation Monday after a wave of controversy and criticism began to surround his office.
“Alberto Gonzales long ago lost the confidence of the majority of the Senate, the professionals in the Justice Department and most importantly, the American people,” said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., in a press release. “This was the right decision and long overdue.”
After Gonzales’ alleged mismanagement of FBI terror investigations and the firings of U.S. attorneys, both Republicans and Democrats were demanding the attorney general leave his office.
Many, however, feel Gonzales, the country’s first Hispanic attorney general, was pushed out of his office, and, as a result, was unable to perform his job.
“He was made into a whipping boy and it became a witch hunt,” said Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics. “I think the Senate Democratic majority in particular made it a campaign to smear and discredit Gonzales for doing things that Democrats have been doing for decades.”
Gonzales’ resignation was a surprise for many, especially those in the administration. He had held the position for more than two years.
In his position, Gonzales pushed for expanded presidential powers, military tribunals and limited rights for Guantanamo Bay detainees.
“He’s been a disaster for Republicans, a disaster for the country and probably the worst attorney general,” said Mark Grebner, from Practical Political Consulting, Inc., 220 Albert Ave.
Gonzales has yet to give his reasons for leaving office. His resignation will take effect Sept. 17.
“Usually, something terrible happened and that’s why he resigned,” Grebner said. “Pretty likely some terrible secret will come out in a few weeks. He’s probably getting out ahead of some breaking scandal.”
In spite of the controversy surrounding Gonzales’ tenure in the U.S. Justice Department, President Bush has advocated for his former legal adviser. Gonzales is now the fourth official in the Bush administration to leave since November 2006, following former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, former President of the World Bank Paul Wolfowitz and former political and policy adviser Karl Rove.
“The suggestion that Gonzales lost support on Capitol Hill is true and the president recognizes it happened,” Ballenger said. “Nevertheless he is probably very angry and hurt that Gonzales was in this position.”
A possible replacement for Gonzales is up for debate, especially with only 16 months left in President Bush’s term.
“There’s not much (Bush) can do to get anyone in there to do anything,” Ballenger said. “I don’t think he should appoint anybody. If he appoints someone, the Senate Democratic majority will want hearings.”
Some names that have been thrown around as possible replacements have been U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, however neither have considered the position.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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