Video: Gonzales Amnesia
The Washington Post reports that Alberto Gonzales used the phrase I dont 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 nights 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 doesnt know what happened, but he assures you what he doesnt remember was handled properly. Watch it:
Heres 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: Werent 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?