The Washington Post reports that Alberto Gonzales used the phrase “I don’t recall” and its variants 64 times during the five-hour hearing, “treat[ing] the committee to a mixture of arrogance, combativeness and amnesia. Even his would-be defenders on the Republican side were appalled.”
Last night’s Daily Show featured a video compilation highlighting the absurdity of Gonzales’ “amnesia.” Jon Stewart: “After weeks of mock testimony, there you have it. Alberto Gonzales doesn’t know what happened, but he assures you what he doesn’t remember was handled properly.” Watch it:
Here’s a sampling of the types of questions Gonzales evaded:
SESSIONS: Do you recall [the November 27 meeting before the firings] and where it took place?
LEAHY: Did the President ever tell you specifically to fire a U.S. attorney?
DURBIN: In the situation with Carol Lam, did you have any conversations with Karl Rove about her fate?
BROWNBACK: Daniel Bogden of Nevada: Why was he terminated?
BROWNBACK: Margaret Chiara, the Western District of Michigan?
KOHL: So then my question is, why was [U.S. attorney Steve Biskupic] then taken off the list?
SPECTER: Weren’t you involved in the decision on the removal of Arkansas U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins, as Kyle Sampson testified?
FEINSTEIN: Did anybody that was involved in the [firings] ever look at [the attorneys'] performance reports prior to putting them on the list?
As Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) noted yesterday, “if the attorney general cannot answer a straightforward, factual question from a senator about recent events, how can he possibly run the department?”
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