Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Resigns from the Bush Cabinet

Main Topic

Gonzales Resigns, Bush Says Critics 'Dragged Him Through the Mud' ()

Brutal treatment of terrorist detainees, electronic surveillance without judicial approval, politics in the administration of justice. Republicans as well as Democrats accused Attorney General Alberto Gonzales of being less than candid about policies dealing with human rights and the Constitution. Today, he announced his resignation, effective September 17. The son of migrant workers in Texas, Gonzales said, "Even my worst days as Attorney General have been better than my father's best days," and thanked President Bush for his friendship and the opportunity to serve the American people. Less than two hours after he stepped down, President Bush reluctantly accepted, lamenting that "his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons." Bush said Solicitor General Paul Clement will be interim Attorney General until the Senate approves a full-time successor.  We look at the latest transition at the highest levels of the Bush Administration and explores where the President goes from here.

Guests:

• Maura Reynolds: White House Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times
• Evan Perez: reporter for the Wall Street Journal, @evanperez
• Wayne Slater: Senior Political Writer for the Dallas Morning News, @WayneSlater
• Michael Isikoff: Investigative Correspondent for Newsweek, @IsikoffNBC
• John Mercurio: Senior Editor, The Hotline
• Ralph Neas: President Emeritus of People for the American Way
• Helgi Walker: Former Associate Counsel to President Bush

Links:

• Los Angeles Times on Gonzales resignation
• National Journal on Gonzales resignation
• Dallas Morning News on Gonzales resignation
• National Journal on Gonzales resignation
• People for the American Way on resignation
• Isikoff's article on Gonzales resignation

Reporter's Notebook

Fires Rage across Greece ()

Forest fires have been burning throughout Greece, and dozens of blazes reportedly are out of control. The fires on the outskirts of Athens reportedly have been extinguished and Olympia on the Peloponnesian Peninsula has been saved--at least for the moment. However, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said on television that so many fires breaking out simultaneously in so many places "cannot be a coincidence."  Ian Fisher reports from Greece for the New York Times.

Guests:

• Ian Fisher: Correspondent for the New York Times