Gonzales under investigation for lying to Congress

Friday, August 31, 2007  

Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn A. Fine is investigating whether outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lied to Congress.

In a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Fine said he was looking at Gonzales' testimony on national security and the firings of several federal prosecutors. Democrats allege Gonzales gave false and misleading statements about both subjects.

Fine is also looking into allegations of improper hiring practices. Monica Goodling, a former aide to Gonzales, testified that she took into account political affiliation when interviewing Justice attorneys.

Goodling is the same aide who told Congress that former U.S. Attorney General Tom Heffelfinger was targeted for firing because he spent "too much time" on Indian issues. She also said Gonzales may have tried to shape her testimony, an issue Fine is examining as well.

Gonzales announced his resignation on Monday. He is leaving the department on September 17.

Get the Story:
Justice Dept. Probing Whether Gonzales Lied (The Washington Post 8/31)
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Inspector General at the Justice Dept. Is Investigating Gonzales’s Testimony (The New York Times 8/31)
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