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Alberto Gonzales hires criminal defense attorney
Former attorney general Alberto Gonzales has lawyered up, Newsweek reports.
The magazine says Gonzales hired George Terwilliger, a former Justice Department official who was named as a possible successor to the longtime Bush confidante, to represent him in the investigations that have grown out of his testimony about the removal of nine federal prosecutors and a controversial discussion about surveillance operations with his predecessor, John Ashcroft.
Terwilliger confirmed to the magazine that he's been retained by Gonzales, but refused to discuss any of the allegations that have been leveled against the former judge. He says the decision to retain a defense lawyer doesn't suggest Gonzales broke the law.
"It would really be unfair to individuals who are smart enough to get themselves a lawyer to draw some inference that they need a lawyer because they did something wrong," Terwilliger tells the Associated Press. "Nor has he been accused of wrongdoing. Investigations are conducted to find the facts. And the facts will show that Judge Gonzales acted honorably in all circumstances while holding positions of great responsibility and importance to maintaining the safety of the country."
According to Newsweek: The top concern for Gonzales, and now Terwilliger, is the expanding investigation by Glenn Fine, the Justice Department’s fiercely independent inspector general, according to three legal sources familiar with the matter who declined to speak publicly about ongoing investigations. Originally, Fine's internal Justice probe—conducted in conjunction with lawyers from the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility—focused on the mass dismissal of U.S. attorneys late last year. The investigation has since broadened to include, among other matters, charges that Gonzales lied to Congress about the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program and the circumstances surrounding his late-night March 10, 2004, visit to the hospital room of then attorney general John Ashcroft. At the same time, Congress is continuing to pursue more documents on harsh CIA interrogation techniques approved by Gonzales.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold confirmation hearings for Judge Michael Mukasey, the president's nominee for attorney general, next week.
Former attorney general Alberto Gonzales has lawyered up, Newsweek reports.
The magazine says Gonzales hired George Terwilliger, a former Justice Department official who was named as a possible successor to the longtime Bush confidante, to represent him in the investigations that have grown out of his testimony about the removal of nine federal prosecutors and a controversial discussion about surveillance operations with his predecessor, John Ashcroft.
Terwilliger confirmed to the magazine that he's been retained by Gonzales, but refused to discuss any of the allegations that have been leveled against the former judge. He says the decision to retain a defense lawyer doesn't suggest Gonzales broke the law.
"It would really be unfair to individuals who are smart enough to get themselves a lawyer to draw some inference that they need a lawyer because they did something wrong," Terwilliger tells the Associated Press. "Nor has he been accused of wrongdoing. Investigations are conducted to find the facts. And the facts will show that Judge Gonzales acted honorably in all circumstances while holding positions of great responsibility and importance to maintaining the safety of the country."
According to Newsweek: The top concern for Gonzales, and now Terwilliger, is the expanding investigation by Glenn Fine, the Justice Department’s fiercely independent inspector general, according to three legal sources familiar with the matter who declined to speak publicly about ongoing investigations. Originally, Fine's internal Justice probe—conducted in conjunction with lawyers from the department’s Office of Professional Responsibility—focused on the mass dismissal of U.S. attorneys late last year. The investigation has since broadened to include, among other matters, charges that Gonzales lied to Congress about the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program and the circumstances surrounding his late-night March 10, 2004, visit to the hospital room of then attorney general John Ashcroft. At the same time, Congress is continuing to pursue more documents on harsh CIA interrogation techniques approved by Gonzales.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold confirmation hearings for Judge Michael Mukasey, the president's nominee for attorney general, next week.
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