United States:Embattled US attorney general Alberto Gonzales conceded yesterday he mishandled the dismissals of eight US attorneys last year in one of several controversies swirling around US president George W Bush.
In written testimony before appearing at a congressional hearing this week that could decide if he keeps his job, Mr Gonzales said he made "honest mistakes" and had been "less than precise with my words when discussing the resignations".
"While I firmly believe that these dismissals were appropriate, I have equal conviction that the process by which these US attorneys were asked to resign could have - and should have - been handled differently," Mr Gonzales said in testimony submitted to the senate judiciary committee.
The dismissal of eight prosecutors in December, shortly after Democrats won control of congress, has blown up into another controversy for Mr Bush, whose political approval has been dragged down by the unpopular war in Iraq. Democratic critics who have gone after Mr Bush on a number of issues since taking over congress say the eight prosecutors were discharged for political reasons, including being too tough on Republicans.
Mr Gonzales, who is scheduled to testify before the committee tomorrow, denied accusations that the firings were improper or that he had intentionally misled congress about them. "Based upon the record as I know it, it is unfair and unfounded for anyone to conclude that any US attorney was removed for an improper reason," Mr Gonzales said.
In his written testimony, Mr Gonzales said he made a mistake in "not ensuring that these US attorneys received more dignified treatment" in the process.
But he dismissed the notion that he would ask for a resignation for partisan reasons or to interfere with a case being prosecuted. He said key decisions were made by his aide, Kyle Sampson.
It was not clear whether the statement will satisfy sceptical senators, including some Republicans on the senate judiciary committee.
"He has an uphill struggle to re-establish his credibility with the committee," South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham said on Fox's News Sundayprogramme.
Senator Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the committee, said Mr Gonzales should consider reinstating the attorneys if he cannot prove they were removed properly.
- (Reuters)