lily
09-15-2007, 12:23 AM
Buh-bye (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302168.html?wpisrc=newsletter)
A GOODBYE AT JUSTICE
Gonzales Ready to Leave the Stage
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 14, 2007; Page A11
After nine months of noisy controversy over his troubled tenure, Attorney
General Alberto R. Gonzales is leaving office quietly today with a low-key
farewell address to Justice Department employees in Washington.
Gonzales, who has made only three public appearances since announcing his
resignation on Aug. 27, is expected to dwell on his record in combating
terrorism, child exploitation and other crimes rather than on the divisive
issues that forced him from the job.
During a brief news conference yesterday in Des Moines, Gonzales played down
those controversies, including the congressional uproar over the firings of
nine U.S. attorneys last year and the Justice Department and congressional
investigations into whether he lied in testimony or attempted to influence
the testimony of a witness.
"We're all human and all of us make mistakes, and the thing that's important
is to identify when those mistakes are made, acknowledge the mistakes,
correct the mistakes and then you move on," Gonzales said in answer to a
reporter's question, without going into detail. "So, you know, that's what
I've endeavored to do as the attorney general."
A low-profile exit is unsurprising for Gonzales, who was in many respects a
cipher even to some of his closest aides, according to many current and
former Justice Department officials.
A GOODBYE AT JUSTICE
Gonzales Ready to Leave the Stage
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 14, 2007; Page A11
After nine months of noisy controversy over his troubled tenure, Attorney
General Alberto R. Gonzales is leaving office quietly today with a low-key
farewell address to Justice Department employees in Washington.
Gonzales, who has made only three public appearances since announcing his
resignation on Aug. 27, is expected to dwell on his record in combating
terrorism, child exploitation and other crimes rather than on the divisive
issues that forced him from the job.
During a brief news conference yesterday in Des Moines, Gonzales played down
those controversies, including the congressional uproar over the firings of
nine U.S. attorneys last year and the Justice Department and congressional
investigations into whether he lied in testimony or attempted to influence
the testimony of a witness.
"We're all human and all of us make mistakes, and the thing that's important
is to identify when those mistakes are made, acknowledge the mistakes,
correct the mistakes and then you move on," Gonzales said in answer to a
reporter's question, without going into detail. "So, you know, that's what
I've endeavored to do as the attorney general."
A low-profile exit is unsurprising for Gonzales, who was in many respects a
cipher even to some of his closest aides, according to many current and
former Justice Department officials.