Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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August 27, 2007

US Attorney General Gonzales Resigns
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=18FFD26:A6F02AD83191E160B19015ABDA9491849574F7DCC14957C0 Gonzales came
under intense criticism in recent months from Democrats and
Republicans in Congress for his handling of firing of several US
Attorneys last year U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is
resigning after a stormy tenure as head of the Justice Department.
Bush administration officials say Gonzales submitted his resignation
to President Bush on Friday. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone
reports from Washington.







Alberto Gonzales (file photo)

Administration officials confirmed that Gonzales is stepping down
after a difficult tenure as the nation's top law enforcement official.

Gonzales came under intense criticism in recent months from Democrats
and a number of Republicans in Congress for his handling of the firing
of several U.S. Attorneys last year.

Democrats charged that the replacement of the federal prosecutors was
politically motivated and demanded testimony and documents about the
firings from the White House. Gonzales defended the firings and said
they were not political.

Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa was among his critics.

"Because he did things like fire eight U.S. attorneys that probably
should not have been fired, it did weaken his position," he said.

Gonzales also came under fire from Democrats and civil liberties
activists for his support of a domestic spying program that targets
suspected terrorists.


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