Senate Committee Postpones Gonzales Hearing
April 17th, 2007Via: Houston Chronicle:
The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed Tuesday’s questioning of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the firings of eight federal prosecutors, saying the proceedings would be inappropriate in light of the Virginia Tech shootings.
Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy made the decision today to postpone the long-awaited hearing that has been considered Gonzales’ last chance to quiet a controversy that has prompted calls in both parties for his resignation.
Leahy said the hearing had been rescheduled for Thursday. He said he made the decision after conferring with Gonzales and the committee’s senior Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. “All three of us agree,” he said.
“I’m sure that he will want to be dealing with the matters of the shooting,” Leahy said of Gonzales.
Justice spokeswoman Tasia Scolinos said Gonzales was anxious to testify but would defer to Leahy to reschedule the hearing “out of respect for the family members impacted by this horrific tragedy.”
The Bush administration has pushed for Gonzales to testify as soon as possible to try to quell intensifying demands for his resignation. The Democratic-led Judiciary panel said Gonzales delayed the testimony last month.
Murder is a crime in Virginia, and well under the jurisdiction of the Virginia authorities.
There is no constitutional reason for the U.S. Attorney General to be “dealing with” this case. Legally it is no different from any single or multiple homicide in any of the 50 states.