Bush renews support for Gonzales

WASHINGTON — President Bush on Friday stood by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, despite the bipartisan consensus emerging in Washington that Gonzales should resign.

Bush expressed "full confidence" in Gonzales through a spokeswoman and praised his "fantastic" service, in hopes of quashing speculation that the attorney general would be pushed out.

But an array of Republicans described Gonzales with phrases such as "dead man walking," and some White House aides privately voiced hope he would step down on his own.

The continuing erosion of Republican support suggested Gonzales lost ground Thursday during a day of often-hostile questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee, rather than repairing the damage caused by the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.

The dismissals — seven prosecutors were fired Dec. 7, including John McKay in Seattle, and one in June — touched off the controversy that has put Gonzales' job in jeopardy.

Nearly every committee Republican appeared skeptical of Gonzales' handling of the firings and their aftermath.

Calls Friday to dozens of GOP lawmakers, lobbyists and current and former Bush administration officials found almost no support for Gonzales.

"Congressional confidence in his ability has eroded severely," said Rep. Adam Putnam, of Florida, the third-ranking House Republican leader, who Friday became the latest to call for Gonzales' resignation. "This has now reached the point where it's larger than any one man."

Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a judiciary panel member, said Gonzales should "have a frank discussion with the White House. If he and the president decide that he cannot be an effective leader moving forward, then he should resign."

Bush traditionally has bristled at pressure to dismiss advisers under fire, particularly those close to him, such as Gonzales, a longtime confidant from Texas. When he has eased out top officials, he has usually dictated the timing, so as not to appear to be caving in to critics.

But in this case, according to Republican strategists, Bush faces the choice of leaving in place a law-enforcement chief who has undermined his effectiveness in his own department and on Capitol Hill, or reversing gears if the political situation continues to deteriorate.

"Everybody at the White House ... all think he needs to go, but the president doesn't," said a Republican who consulted the Bush team Friday.

Another White House ally said Bush and Gonzales are ignoring reality: "They're the only two people on the planet Earth who don't see it."

A third Republican familiar with sentiment inside the White House said the hope is that Gonzales will leave on his own: "At some point, he'll figure out that it's not a sustainable situation."

Gonzales gave no indication he sees it that way. After weeks of seclusion to prepare for Thursday's testimony, Gonzales tried to return to a normal routine Friday, presiding over an afternoon awards ceremony for National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Gonzales also spoke Friday with Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Arlen Specter, of Pennsylvania, and John Cornyn, of Texas, according to a Justice Department official.

"The attorney general told them that he heard them loud and clear and is committed to building a strong relationship with Congress," said the official, who declined to be identified.

Material from The Seattle Times archive is included in this report.