IMPEACH BUSH

A scheduled 15-minute news conference with Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales was quickly cut short in Chicago on Tuesday, with Gonzales leaving the room after just three questions about the controversial dismissal of a group of U.S. attorneys.

Gonzales was at the Dirksen Federal Building to talk about a national campaign to promote the safety of children on the Internet. Instead, he again found himself defending his actions in the firings, which some say were politically motivated.

The attorney general's handling of the aftermath has resulted in demands that he lose his own job.

Gonzales said he wants his office to work to "reassure the American people that nothing improper happened here" and insisted he has been forthcoming about his role.

"I look forward to working with Congress. I believe in keeping accountability," Gonzales said. "Everything that I've done in connection with this matter supports that principle."

Gonzales said he is taking responsibility for the firings of eight prosecutors and that he believes the record is clear on his involvement. He has drawn criticism in recent days because, after he initially said he was "not involved in any discussions about what was going on," it was revealed in documents last week that he approved the firings at an hourlong meeting in November, two weeks before seven of the prosecutors were dismissed.

"I directed the release of 3,000 pages of documents [on the matter]," Gonzales said Tuesday. "I directed that DOJ employees go up and present testimony."

Gonzales then was asked how that push for cooperation squares with the decision by his senior counselor Monday not to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Monica Goodling invoked her 5th Amendment protection against self-incrimination at the advice of her attorneys.

"I'm not going to comment on the decision by an employee of the department to exercise her constitutional rights," Gonzales said.

The embattled attorney general so far has kept the support of the White House.

Deputy press secretary Dana Perino on Tuesday addressed Goodling's decision, saying it was "unfortunate that a public servant no longer feels that her testimony would be treated fairly before the Congress."

jcoen@tribune.com

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