Ex-AG Gonzales Defends US Attorney Firings and Presidential Loyalty
Alberto Gonzales may have his share of critics, but Target shoppers in Lubbock, Texas, apparently like him.
The former attorney general is in Lubbock to teach a political science class at Texas Tech and to assist in minority recruitment. In an interview with Texas Lawyer, Gonzales touched on a variety of topics, including the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, presidential loyalty and his reference to “quaint” Geneva Conventions.
He also explained why he likes Lubbock—it’s the people.
“Just like last night, I’m out at Target at 9 o’clock getting all kinds of things for an apartment, and a number of people came up to me and introduced themselves and told me how pleased they were that I was coming and welcoming me to the Lubbock community,” he said. “It’s very friendly, and it’s very open, and, as I’ve said, it’s a very fair-minded community. I like the university feel.”
Elsewhere, critics question Gonzales’ role in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and his defense of the Bush administration’s war on terrorism.
Gonzales told Texas Lawyer he doesn’t see the big difference between the nine dismissals and President Clinton’s decision to fire all 93 U.S. attorneys when he took office. “People say, ‘Well, that was different.’ Well, why was that different?” Gonzales asked. “Let me just say that some people say it was wrong to fire them because it might interrupt ongoing important cases. Well, if you fire all 93 U.S. attorneys at the same time, why isn’t there the same concern that you’re going to interrupt ongoing very important cases?”
Gonzales said such firings don’t just occur between administrations. Over the course of four or eight years, it’s not unusual for a president to ask an additional seven or eight U.S. attorneys to leave, for a variety of reasons, he said. Asked if the difference was “the political overtures involved” in the Bush administration firings, Gonzales replied, “I think it was politicized by critics of the president.”
Texas Lawyer also asked Gonzales about the “quaint notion” reference he made about the Geneva Conventions. Gonzales said the reference, made in a confidential memo to the president, was about requirements for things such as athletic uniforms, commissary privileges and a monthly allowance. “I didn’t mean to say that the provisions of the Geneva Conventions requiring basic humane treatment were outdated,” he said.
Texas Lawyer reported this exchange between its reporter and Gonzales on the subject of loyalty:
Q: “I’ve always looked as you as a loyal soldier. You’ve been incredibly loyal to President Bush.”
Gonzales: “When did that become a bad thing?”
Q: “It’s not a bad thing.”
Gonzales: “OK, so what’s your question?”
Gonzales goes on to say that an attorney general wears two hats. One is as a member of the president’s team, and the other is as the country’s chief law enforcement officer. Anyone appointed by the president should be loyal to his programs and priorities, Gonzales said.
But he added this statement: “I think it’s important for your readers to know that for me my No. 1 loyalty was, of course, always to the Constitution and the American people, always.”
Gonzales also gave an interview to the New York Times magazine that was published earlier this month.
