Gonzales: I was just offering a shoulder to cry on.

The Justice Department responds to Monica Goodling’s “damning revelation” that Alberto Gonzales may have tried to “shape” her testimony:

Brian J. Roehrkasse, a Justice Department spokesman, said in a statement that Mr. Gonzales “has never attempted to influence or shape the testimony or public statements of any witness in this matter, including Ms. Goodling. The statements made by the attorney general during this meeting were intended only to comfort her in a very difficult period.“