Gonzales Contradicts His Sworn Testimony About Bush’s Warrantless Spying Program
Gonzales Contradicts His Sworn Testimony About Bush’s Warrantless Spying Program
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales directly contradicted his 2006 sworn testimony about the NSA domestic surveillance program during a press conference today.
Recall, last month, Deputy Attorney General James Comey revealed in sworn testimony that there had been significant dissent within the Justice Department surrounding the Bush administration’s warrantless domestic spying program. Comey revealed that the deep doubts about the program’s “legality and oversight” almost led to the resignations of Attorney General John Ashcroft, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and others.
Comey’s disturbing account contradicted Alberto Gonzales’ sworn testimony before Congress in 2006. He said at the time:
GONZALES: Senator, here is a response that I feel that I can give with respect to recent speculation or stories about disagreements. There has not been any serious disagreement, including — and I think this is accurate — there has not been any serious disagreement about the program that the president has confirmed. There have been disagreements about other matters regarding operations, which I cannot get into. I will also say –
Last month, Gonzales refused to retract his original testimony, raising “fresh questions about the nature of the classified dispute” to which Comey referred. Center for American Progress senior fellow Peter Swire noted that Gonzales’ refusal to revise his testimony either confirmed that Gonzales had “made serious misstatements under oath” or that senior Justice Department officials were, in effect, “confirming that other ‘programs’ exist for domestic spying.”
Today, Gonzales appeared to resolve the question. He confirmed that both he and Comey were referring to the same domestic spying program:
QUESTION: Mr. Attorney General, last month, Jim Comey testified about a visit you and Andy Card made to John Ashcroft’s hospital bed. Can you tell us your side of the story? Why were you there? And did Mr. Comey testify truthfully about it? Did he remember it correctly?
GONZALES: Mr. Comey’s testimony related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people sometime ago. And, because it’s a highly classified program, I’m not going to comment on his testimony.
Gonzales’ confirmation that he and Comey were in fact referring to the same NSA warrantless wiretapping program raises fresh questions about his credibility. Assuming Gonzales is now telling the truth, his original claim that there was no “serious disagreement” about the program should be viewed as a brazen effort to mislead Congress about the depth and seriousness of the legal controversy surrounding the spying program.
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AAAwww Shit, break out the flashlights libs and Dems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
June 5th, 2007 at 6:33 pmOver the line!!! Foul!!!
Am I the only one around here that gives a sh*t about the rules?!?!!?
June 5th, 2007 at 6:35 pmClinton did it!!!!
June 5th, 2007 at 6:36 pmLook, he lied to congress, a crime.
June 5th, 2007 at 6:44 pmGrow some balls, Democrats and charge Gonzo already.
sheesh…..
And someone buy Pelosi a F*cking Table!!!!!!!!!
AND THERE IN THE PICTURE IS A SLICK, FAST, SMOOTH TALKING, I AIN’T
SAYING IT DUDE
i’m saying i have to CHILL OUT DUDE…
but it certainly appears the highest class house of the land, the department of justice, senate, congress, k street and all the
departments of
defense
epa
there’s just too friggin many of those departments
all shifty eyed, fast, smooth, smoozing, blowing in the wind, twisting,
caving in, wheelin and dealing
IS FRIGGIN CORRUPT AS HELL
June 5th, 2007 at 6:44 pmHow much more does it take before they impeach this corrupt criminal loser?
June 5th, 2007 at 6:45 pmCan we throw his lying ass in prison NOW???
June 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pmIt’s hard to keep track of all those lies, isn’t it Gonzo?
June 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pmIsn’t this a crime?
Shouldn’t he be charged with having commited a Criminal act?
June 5th, 2007 at 6:47 pmDon’t censure. Impeach.
June 5th, 2007 at 6:49 pmNOTICE:
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I don’t get it. Can someone explain to me what the contradictory statement is?
June 5th, 2007 at 6:50 pmClinton did it too.
Can’t talk about an ongoing investigation.
Libs want terrorists to win.
And, uh, Clinton did it too.
June 5th, 2007 at 6:58 pm#12 There has not been any serious disagreement, including — and I think this is accurate — there has not been any serious disagreement about the program that the president has confirmed. —A.G. 2006
then you have an admission of the Godfather II bedside battle. “Mr. Comey’s testimony related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people sometime ago.”
That is a personal admission and link that the first staement is incorrect and a lie to Congress. A felony.
June 5th, 2007 at 6:58 pm“Today, Gonzales appeared to resolve the question. He confirmed that both he and Comey were referring to the same domestic spying program”
No he didn’t TP.
Don’t you guys no anything about denoting?
June 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pmSHIFTY EYED
FAST SMOOTH TALKING
WHEELING
AND
DEALING
SMOOZIN
AND
SCRATCHIN
FRIGGIN
HOODLUMS
I SAY
FRIGGIN TOTALLY CORRUPT DUDE
FRIGGIN SWINDLERS DUDE
June 5th, 2007 at 7:05 pmErratum: post #15) wrong word – “know” instead of “no”
June 5th, 2007 at 7:07 pmDon’t you guys no anything about denoting?
Comment by Mr. President — June 5, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Don’t you “no” anything about language?
I’m guessing “NO”.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:13 pmwhy is it none of these empty suits can ever say yes or no to an answer? why are they not in police custody for being incompetent and breaking law after law? why can’t they demand someone tell the truth, and short of that, why don’t they ever call these liars on their testimony?
June 5th, 2007 at 7:19 pmI never get an answer darn it.
Call Pelosi and Reid and ask them if they are waiting to catch Gonzales with a “dead girl or live boy” before they do anything.
Guess that they are too busy figuring out ways to skirt their own “new” rules regarding pork/benchmarks to bother themselves with the issues that the voters felt important enough to elect a Democratic majority for. You know, ending the Iraq Genocide Project, addressing health care, environment/energy.
So, I wonder how long they figure they can do nothing before they get called to the mat on it?
Glad we (the anti-war minority) pinned all our hopes to a crooked pimp from Nevada and an aging gumba from California.
Same lies, just different faces.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:24 pmAAAwww Shit, break out the flashlights libs and Dems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Comment by Mr. President — June 5, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
We’ll need more than that, to help you find your head up your *ss. It’s up there too far, poor little whiny sh*thead…
June 5th, 2007 at 7:32 pmMr. Prezident’s post didn’t pass the mustard test.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:36 pmSame lies, just different faces.
Comment by Fed the Fcuk Up! — June 5, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
Ding. We have a winner!
I’m curious as to how they’ll skirt issues starting in 2009, when they’ll most likely be adding a solid majority in congress to the seat in the Whitehouse. Going to have to do some serious dancing then to accomplish nothing, but I’m sure they’ll be up to it.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:38 pmDems suck ass almost as vigorously as Repubs.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:42 pmWHen I was a kid, my father told me that the problem with lying is that after you told one lie, you’d have to tell others to cover it up until before long you’d have told so many lies, you’d slip up and tell on yourself.
Apparently, Gonzo’s Daddy didn’t teach him that it’s just easier to tell the truth… Tough one to learn on your own… And at his age!
Is Harvard embarrassed yet?
June 5th, 2007 at 7:47 pm#24,
I understand your frustration but you still are not looking at the BIG picture, and that is that there is absolutely no difference between the Dems & Repubs.
Two teams playing in a game for our visual enjoyment and our mental distraction. But just as any professional sport, the teams only play the games but the “league” control the games.
It is time to start calling liars liars, thieves thieves, and murderers murderers and quit being held up by “PC” boundaries because those boundaries protect the machine, not the people.
If you don’t feel that the time has come to force our will upon our “representatives”, then you’ve probably already resigned yourself to being kept. Enjoy.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:53 pmHey, they don’t care if they’re caught lieing to anyone.
June 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pmThey have been waayy above the law up until now and have no intention of investigating themselves or getting caught up in that whole credibility thing.
At the risk of repeating myself…
AG da’ AG is an enemy of the state and an enemy of the people. He hates democracy and everything it stands for!!! A complete, never ending a$$hole, facist, ph*ckwad!!
HE’S STICKING AROUND TO HELP OVERSEE THE IMPENDING LOCK DOWN OF OUR COUNTRY AND ITS CITIZENS!!! GW BOTCH AND DICK(HEAD) CHENEY MUST BE STOPPED NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Abu Grabhole da’ AG needs to be considered “quaint” before a war crimes tribunal or at The Hague!!!!
AG da’ AG = CUA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 5th, 2007 at 7:56 pmComment by spit take — June 5, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
too late, shitcake. I already posted an “erratum”
June 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pmIs Harvard embarrassed yet?
Comment by unbelievable — June 5, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
I hope so…when do we stop the onslaught of worthless, poorly edcuated lawyers from any “Universerity” or “College?”
Now we are fighting against the ignorance fostered at Regent “University” and the “Monica Goodlings” who are enemies within and wish to replace our great democracy with a MIINDLESS JESUS THEOCRACY!!!
June 5th, 2007 at 8:06 pmNow we are fighting against the ignorance fostered at Regent “University†and the “Monica Goodlings†who are enemies within and wish to replace our great democracy with a MIINDLESS JESUS THEOCRACY!!!
Comment by dixie blood — June 5, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
The longer I’m an Atheist the more absurd god-beliefs become. Yet you can lead 85% of this country around by that nonsense… No wonder the Founding Fathers made us a Democratic Republic. The problem is that it’s been turned into an elitist oligarchy… Appalling.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:13 pmEvery time I look at Gonzo, I am reminded of the slugs that infest my garden. If I could only put a bowl of beer out there and get rid of the infestation.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:17 pm“Mr. Comey’s testimony related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people sometime ago. And, because it’s a highly classified program, I’m not going to comment on his testimony.”
And he discussed this “highly classified” program in a hospital room in front of Mrs. Ashcroft. This alone is an impeachable offense.
I don’t want Gonzales to resign, I want his ass thrown in jail and I want to see him disbarred.
BTW, is Scooter Libby an attorney? If so, I guess he’s been disbarred.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:24 pmBTW, is Scooter Libby an attorney? If so, I guess he’s been disbarred.
Comment by Kate Henry
Since he’s a convicted felon, he should be disbarred.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:29 pmam i missing something? – have any dem or repub pres. candidates or anybody for that matter from those parties commented on gonzo including pelosi? – i don’t live in the u.s. but i haven’t read any statements by any of these people in relation to gonzo – can anyone bring me up to speed?
June 5th, 2007 at 8:34 pmWhen are they going to impeach this shameless pile of crap they call Attorney General ?
June 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pmThe longer I’m an Atheist the more absurd god-beliefs become. Yet you can lead 85% of this country around by that nonsense… No wonder the Founding Fathers made us a Democratic Republic. The problem is that it’s been turned into an elitist oligarchy… Appalling.
Comment by unbelievable — June 5, 2007 @ 8:13 pm
And…I’m very angry that not one Congress Critter had the guts to ask her if she also filtered the hires she was overseeing with questions like:
“Are you born again?”
“Do you believe in Jesus?”
etc, ph*cking, etc., ph*cking etc!!!
Our government is being stacked with reich-wing Christianistas and it must be stopped at the grass-roots, mainstream demominationalist level!!!
June 5th, 2007 at 8:42 pmDisbarment! It is time for the bar to become involved.
June 5th, 2007 at 8:58 pmI hate to say this, but I understand how they parse language. If confronted, AGAG will say that his statement was factually correct; highly misleading but factually correct.
“There has not been any serious disagreement about the program the President has confirmed.” Since the program the President has confirmed is the one that was modified to meet the demands of the DoJ, then the statement is factually correct. Disingenuous, deceiptful and misleading, but he can’t be charged with perjury, unless a prosecutor can convince a jury that the statement was intended to deceive.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:14 pmIsn’t this called “perjury”?? Lying under oath before congress?? It is in my book.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:39 pm#39,
Looking for truth from a lawyer or a politician is like looking for a virgin in a whorehouse.
June 5th, 2007 at 9:40 pmThere wasn’t any serious disagreement. Going to Ashcroft’s hospital bedside was just Alberto, clowning around.
Geebus, can’t an attorney general have a little fun?
June 5th, 2007 at 10:06 pmSadly, folks, the momentum has been lost. Two months ago, we had the Republicans on the run… there was pressure from Congress, Waxman was embarrassing everyone he questioned, REPUBLICANS were calling for Gonzo to resign. Now, they’ve drug their feet for so long, the momentum is gone… I see very little interest any more in getting rid of the AG… Republicans have slipped back into the (Repub) fold… threatening now to try to stop any kind of no confidence vote. Momentum is so important, and it’s been lost. Why didn’t you subpoena these bastards? “Last chance,” I read, then “very last chance.” I want Rove on the ropes! I want to be done with Gonzo and his minions who politicize the Justice Department. It’s too late. “I don’t remember” has won the day, and Leahy and Waxman, once warriors with clubs held high, are nowhere to be seen, except saying “Oh, OK” to yet another bunch of Republican hiding, lying, non-remembering, and I’m sure chuckling with each other after the hearings… I am too depressed to speak. We had ‘em!!! We had ‘em, and the bumbling Congressmen let ‘em get away. When are we gonna see some Democrats with cochones?!?!?
Charlie
June 5th, 2007 at 10:22 pm43 – Two sides, same coin.
June 5th, 2007 at 10:45 pmSHHhhhhh, It’s too secret to talk about. Besides if I told you I would have to put you in Gitmo. Stall, stall, stall, they think by leaving office no charges will follow them. Our Pres. Candidates have said what about this issue ? chirp chirp chirp
June 5th, 2007 at 11:43 pmGuys, step back and think about it. The guy is a lawyer and he is talking as one. Comey testified that Bush resolved the dissent by revising the program before he approved it. The REVISED version apparently did not cause dissent, and that is the one the President ultimately signed off on and eventually confirmed publicly. So there is no inconsistency between Comey’s testimony, Gonzalez’s 2006 testimony, or the present Gonzalez statement. He’s just ignoring the original program he proposed and which Ashcroft and Comey refused to agree to. It must have been really, really bad. THAT is what we should be askin questions about, and since it doesn’t exist, there is no excuse of national security to refuse to answer those questions! But that plan will tell us everything we need to know about Gonzalez and Cheney.
June 6th, 2007 at 2:41 pmBTW, is Scooter Libby an attorney? If so, I guess he’s been disbarred.
Comment by Kate Henry
Yes, Kate, at least he was at one time. He was one of Marc Rich’s lawyers, and helped get his client a pardon from President Clinton. Remember how the Republicans hated that one?
June 6th, 2007 at 6:44 pmHere we go again — unquestioningly assuming that Gonzales is a perfect liar who never tells the truth, even inadvertently. Ask these questions:
Why did the FBI Director threaten to resign over a program _OUTSIDE_ the FBI?
Why was the FBI Director in the thick of an issue not involving the FBI?
Why did those who threatened to resign NOT include the NSA Director?
Isn’t it time the media paused, stepped back, and seriously pursued answers to those questions?
June 6th, 2007 at 6:55 pmGuys, step back and think about it. The guy is a lawyer and he is talking as one. Comey testified that Bush resolved the dissent by revising the program before he approved it. The REVISED version apparently did not cause dissent, and that is the one the President ultimately signed off on and eventually confirmed publicly. So there is no inconsistency between Comey’s testimony, Gonzalez’s 2006 testimony, or the present Gonzalez statement. He’s just ignoring the original program he proposed and which Ashcroft and Comey refused to agree to. It must have been really, really bad. THAT is what we should be askin questions about, and since it doesn’t exist, there is no excuse of national security to refuse to answer those questions! But that plan will tell us everything we need to know about Gonzalez and Cheney.
Comment by David — June 6, 2007 @ 2:41 pm
False. Bushit continued the program — unauthorized, because illegal — for at least several weeks until the revisions could be worked out.
June 6th, 2007 at 6:58 pmHow much more does it take before they impeach this corrupt criminal loser?
Comment by CONservative — June 5, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
You care about the rule of law — correct? You demand the law be enforced? Is that why you willffully remain ignorant of it?
THE DEMOCRATS DON’T YET HAVE SUFFICIENT VOTES TO IMPEACH.
And the reason they don’t is because of the foot-dragging Republicans.
So who do you bash because of the foot-dragging? Democrats.
There’s a website on which only Democrats are bashed. You’d fit in there: Free Republic.
June 6th, 2007 at 7:06 pmAs much as I love seeing Gonzo squirm, he didn’t contradict himself on the wiretap issues sighted in the interview. Gonzo is carefully, but stumblingly, saying “…the program that was confirmed.” There’s more than one. Of which, he will not discuss.
Gonzo: “Mr. Comey’s testimony related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people sometime ago.”
“a” As is a specific one, but, you don’t know which one because Gonzo won’t discuss it.
The last sentence in his response to the question has nothing to do with the program in question. He’s just not flatly saying that.
Gonzo: “And, because it’s(different program) a highly classified program, I’m not going to comment on his testimony.
“it’s” What *it*? Which *it* is Gonzo not going to talk about?
The longer he stays AG, the more Congress will use his incompetence to lead them to impeaching D!ck and Bush.
June 6th, 2007 at 11:16 pmThis isn’t “worse than Watergate,” as in distinct from it. It is the final chapter of Watergate.
Read the following in relation to the AG scandal, which is the iceberg tip —
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/6/6/182434/8934
June 7th, 2007 at 3:20 amI have no idea if this is really true, but:
July 24th, 2007 at 7:58 pmIt sure makes sense that AG would implement the whole-deal program, the one that Ashcroft and Comey thought was unconstitutional, as soon as AG became attorney general. And that would mean… that it is probably going on right now. Something a lot more invasive than the known NSA warantless wiretapping-of-communications-with-foreign-people program. What would make sense? Well, how about warantless wiretapping of US citizens, talking or emailing to other US citizens.