By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
August 27, 2007
WASHINGTON - Though Alberto Gonzales is a target no more,
Democrats remain intent on showing the White House tried to
turn the Justice Department and its prosecutors into political
spear carriers.
Still, the faintest glimmer of goodwill appeared between the
White House and Democratic-led Congress in the dust of Gonzales'
resignation. Democrats said President Bush could do much to
restart talks and perhaps ease constitutional standoffs depending
on the replacement he nominates.
"You can't just say with Attorney General Gonzales these
investigations should be pushed under the rug," said Sen.
Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "But what you can say with a new
attorney general, there'll be cooperation, there'll be compromise.
We can see what happened, put rules and laws into place so
it doesn't happen again, and move on."
The White House deemed the Democrats' posture "encouraging," but
made no promises.
The list of disputes is long, marked by Congress' demands
for White House information and the president's staunch assertions
of executive privilege.
Congress is investigating the firings of eight federal prosecutors
over the past winter and Bush's program for eavesdropping on
suspected terrorists without court warrants.
___
On the fired prosecutors:
- Bush has repeatedly insisted that Gonzales did nothing wrong
since the dismissed U.S. attorneys were political appointees
who served at the pleasure of the president.
- Democrats have finished pummeling the president's longtime
friend over that matter and shifted to whether the White House
specifically departing presidential adviser Karl Rove directed
the dismissals in an effort to influence corruption probes
and voter fraud cases. "This resignation is not the end
of the story," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid,
D-Nev. "Congress must get to the bottom of this mess and
follow the facts where they lead, into the White House."
- Subponeas are still outstanding for Rove and other officials
after Democrats rejected the White House's offer to let Democrats
interview them in private and off the record. The Senate Judiciary
Committee is expected to consider voting on a contempt citation
against Rove after he on Bush's order ignored its subpoena.
- Contempt citations against two other White House officials,
Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Counsel Harriet Miers
have been approved by the House Judiciary Committee and could
get a vote this fall by the full House.
- If not resolved, the struggle over whether White House officials
are subject to congressional subpoenas could end up in federal
court.
___
On the eavesdropping issue:
- Congress passed a temporary law just before adjourning for
its August vacation to expand the government's ability to monitor
suspects in national security investigations without first
seeking court approval in certain cases.
- That law lasts for only six months. Democrats will move
any extension of it beyond then to the top of their agenda
this fall.
- The House Judiciary Committee plans hearings in September
on the terms of the new law and the extent to which a special
court established by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act should supervise the government's surveillance.
The White House wants Congress to focus on making changes
to the FISA law permanent.
"We're hopeful that Congress will refocus on legislative
priorities, like FISA reform," said presidential spokesman
Tony Fratto.
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