Attorney General Gonzales Resigns

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Fearless W hoppin' mad...

Angry Bush Says Gonzales' Name 'Dragged Through the Mud'
Aug. 27, 2007 - President Bush also said that the attorney general faced unfair treatment for political reasons.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation Monday after months of growing criticism from Congress. In a terse statement to the press in Texas, Monday, President Bush praised Gonzales' career and work at the department, calling the attorney general a man of "integrity, decency and principle," noting that he "reluctantly" accepted his resignation.

Though Republicans and Democrats have criticized the attorney general for a variety of missteps, Bush expressed regret over what he called "months of unfair treatment" of Gonzales, saying, "It's sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons."

Lawmakers blasted Gonzales after his department fired at least nine U.S. attorneys last year and accused him of misusing terrorist surveillance programs. Most recently Democrats said that Gonzales had repeatedly lied to Congress under oath. Gonzales held a brief news conference at the Justice Department Monday morning, officially announcing that he will officially leave his post Sept. 17. He thanked Bush, saying that he is "profoundly grateful" for the opportunity to serve as attorney general.

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