DOJ Investigates if Gonzales Tried to Influence Aide's Testimony

The Justice Department is investigating whether Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales sought to influence the testimony of a departing senior aide during a March meeting in Gonzales's office, according to correspondence released today.

The disclosure could represent a serious legal threat to the embattled attorney general. Fine's office is empowered to refer matters for criminal prosecution if warranted.

The revelation also broadens the publicly known contours of the internal Justice Department investigation, which is examining the removal of the prosecutors as well as whether any laws or policies were violated in the hiring of career prosecutors, immigration judges and others.

In a May 23 appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, Goodling testified that Gonzales had laid out his general recollection of events surrounding the prosecutor dismissals during a meeting between the two in March, as Goodling was preparing to leave the department. Gonzales asked whether Goodling "had any reaction to his iteration," and she said the conversation made her "a little uncomfortable" because of ongoing investigations into the issue, according to her testimony.

It sounds like our illustrious Attorney general could have been engaged in witness tampering which is a felony. Does anyone know why this unqualified hack is still our chief law enforcement official? This may turn up the heat enough to finally force him out.

The Justice Department should be as non political as possible. I understand that everything in Washington is political to some degree but this administration has crossed the line so often that no one is even sure where the line starts anymore.