As details continue to come to light regarding the dismissal of federal prosecutors, it’s apparent the White House offer to let select key aides answer questions in secret, without a record and without swearing an oath to tell the truth, is not sufficient.
Reports that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was more involved than he earlier admitted weaken the Bush administration’s efforts to end this growing controversy. Gonzales himself is scheduled to testify April 17 before the Senate Judiciary Committee. President Bush should be willing to allow others in the administration to face public questioning.
Democrats insist that one reason voters put them in charge of the House and the Senate in the 2006 elections was to impose accountability on the administration.
Presidents have the right to appoint prosecutors who will follow their broad political agendas, and those prosecutors serve at the pleasure of the administration. To do so would gravely undermine Americans’ confidence in the federal justice system.
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