House Democrats to join Senate in seeking 'no confidence' vote on Attorney General Michael Roston

Published: Friday May 18, 2007 Print This Email This Two Democrats in the House of Representatives will join their colleagues in the Senate and seek a vote of no confidence against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, RAW STORY has learned late on Friday. "It is our belief that Congress and the American people have lost confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and the Congress should formally express no confidence in his continued tenure as the head of the Department of Justice," wrote Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Artur Davis (D-AL) in a so-called "Dear Colleague" letter to other Members of Congress. They added, "Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has failed to adequately and properly manage the Department of Justice and faithfully execute the duties of his office, as reflected in his mismanagement of the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, the conflicting and incomplete testimony before Congress by the Attorney General regarding his actions, and his demonstrated inability to reassure the public that our laws are being enforced in a nonpartisan, judicious manner." Reached for comment late in the day, an aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the she has not yet seen the particular measure proposed by Schiff and Davis. But the Speaker had already expressed her desire to see the Attorney General step down in March. "She's asked Gonzales to resign two months ago," Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for Rep. Pelosi told RAW STORY . "What's important here is to understand that while Congress has an important role to play, it's the President's responsibility to act for the American people, and if the Attorney General has lost their confidence, the President should heed that call." Schiff and Davis's plan followed on that of Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who announced similar intentions on Thursday. The text of the letter is presented below. # Dear Colleague: As former Assistant United States Attorneys, with a combined 10 years of experience as prosecutors in the Department of Justice, we have lost confidence in the ability of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to lead the Department. Next week, we will introduce a resolution expressing no confidence in the performance of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and urging the President to request his resignation. At this critical time in our Nation's history, when we confront unprecedented challenges posed by global terrorism, and when public confidence in our justice system is a necessity, our country must have the service of an Attorney General who has the full confidence of the American people to enforce the law, defend the United States from threats foreign and domestic, prevent crime and seek punishment for those guilty, and ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has failed to adequately and properly manage the Department of Justice and faithfully execute the duties of his office, as reflected in his mismanagement of the dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, the conflicting and incomplete testimony before Congress by the Attorney General regarding his actions, and his demonstrated inability to reassure the public that our laws are being enforced in a nonpartisan, judicious manner. It is our belief that Congress and the American people have lost confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, and the Congress should formally express no confidence in his continued tenure as the head of the Department of Justice. Sincerely,



