In what can only be described as the most anticipated no-brainer in Washington, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales told President Bush on friday that he will step down from his post.
Gonzales told Bush of the resignation Friday and the decision is to be officially announced later Monday, the New York Times reported.
Democrats and a growing number of Republicans in Congress have made vocal appeals for Gonzales’s resignation over the last several months. Gonzales has come under repeated scrutiny for his misstatements, and obfuscations on issues ranging from the apparently politically motivated firings of several US Attorney’s to the ham handed way his office handled a wiretapping program when he was White House counsle that was not endorsed by then Attorney General, John Ashcroft
Gonzales reportedly told Bush of the impending resignation in a telephone call Friday, and the decision was not announced until Gonzales met Bush for lunch at his Crawford, Texas, ranch this weekend.
Former Sen. John Edwards was the first, but almost certainly won’t be the last Democratic presidential candidate to weigh in on the news of Gonzales’ resignation, which broke early this morning.
"Better late than never," Edwards said in a prepared statement released by his campaign.
As news of Gonzales’ resignation emerged, speculation centered on who would become his replacement for the remaining 17 months of President Bush’s term. A top candidate is Department of Homeland Security head Michael Chertoff.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), a prominent member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Democrats would be willing to work with the White House to confirm a new attorney general.
"What we Democrats have always said is that we need somebody in this department … who will put rule of law above all others, rule of law above any political consideration," Schumer said on CNN Monday. "… Our attitude is going to be one of cooperation."
What isn’t clear is whether Chertoff would be that type of candidate. As I reported less than a month ago, there are reports that Chertoff failed to act after Chiquita Banana executives confessed to him, that they were paying protection money to a terrorist organization.
Gonzales’s resignation is expected to be announced officially in a 10:30 a.m. news conference Monday.
Fox News reported Monday morning that US Solicitor General Paul Clement could be appointed as a temporary replacement.