‘Open warfare’ at the Justice Department.

The New York Daily News reports:

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales took another blow from a top Republican yesterday as his own inner circle fractured over the growing U.S. attorneys scandal.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Gonzales is “badly weakened” from bungling the firings of eight federal prosecutors. “The explanation has been absolutely abysmal,” Hoekstra told C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal.” …

Hoekstra spoke out as Gonzales’ closest advisers turned on one another… “It’s unreal – it’s open warfare over there,” a former Justice official with close ties to Gonzales’ team told the Daily News. …

Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, who privately blames Goodling for misleading him on the matter, may also be jockeying to take over if Gonzales resigns, sources said.

Carpetbagger has a full rundown of the warfare.