Heffelfinger: Gonzales was open to Indian issues

Tuesday, August 28, 2007  

Outgoing U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was "sensitive" to Indian issues, former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger says.

Heffelfinger was chair of the Department of Justice's Native American Issues Subcommittee. He said he dealt with Gonzales on Indian issues.

"He seemed to be sensitive to those issues. I don't know that people underneath him were," Heffelfinger told the Associated Press.

Heffelfinger resigned in early 2006 and was not among the group of U.S. Attorneys who were ousted in December 2006.. But a former Gonzales aide told Congress that political appointees in Washington, D.C., were concerned that Heffelfinger was spending "too much time" on Indian issues.

Gonzales announced his resignation on Monday. He plans to leave September 17. Solicitor General Paul Clement will serve as acting attorney general until a replacement is named and confirmed.

Get the Story:
Heffelfinger says he has mixed emotions on Gonzales resignation (AP 8/27)
Embattled Gonzales Resigns (The Washington Post 8/28)
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A Defender of Bush’s Power, Gonzales Resigns (The New York Times 8/28)
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