Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and President Bush’s former counsel approved the firings of eight federal prosecutors, Gonzales’ one-time chief of staff told the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.
“I and others made staff recommendations but they were approved and signed off on by the principals,” Kyle Sampson said, referring to Gonzales and former White House Counsel Harriet Miers.
Responding to questions from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Sampson rejected the notion that the dismissals were ordered by young or inexperienced Justice Department officials.
“The decision makers in this case were the attorney general and the counsel to the president,” he told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Gonzales and Miers were deeply involved for two years in discussions about which prosecutors to fire, according to Sampson’s testimony and e-mails released by the Justice Department. · (Read More)