Washington – Despite vocal backing from President Bush, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales faced new doubts Tuesday within his own party about whether he should stay on the job amid strong criticism about his handling of the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.
Several Senate Republicans spoke out against Gonzales for the first time, voicing deep concerns about his performance before the Judiciary Committee last week.
“I think there’s a huge credibility issue at the Justice Department,” said Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota. “I continue, even after his testimony, to have grave doubts.”
“I think the attorney general is on a tightrope, and he and the president need to make a decision before very long,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee.
On Monday, Bush said his confidence in Gonzales had grown after the attorney general’s performance at a Judiciary Committee hearing Thursday. He repeated his support for the embattled Gonzales in a Tuesday interview on public television’s “Charlie Rose” show.
The continuing criticism of Gonzales from Republicans in the face of such support from Bush is unusual, but there were no new calls for the attorney general’s resignation from prominent GOP lawmakers. Coleman noted that he is “walking up to the line” without calling for resignation, a request that, he said, should come only from Bush.
