Originally published August 31, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified August 31, 2007 at 6:58 AM
Gonzales investigated for perjury
The Justice Department's inspector general acknowledged Thursday he was examining whether departing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made...
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's inspector general acknowledged Thursday he was examining whether departing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made false or misleading statements to Congress about the National Security Agency's (NSA) terrorist surveillance program, the fired U.S. attorneys affair and other subjects.
The disclosure by Inspector General Glenn Fine in a letter to Congress signals an expansion of the department's internal investigations into Gonzales' troubled tenure, probes that were not previously known to be focused so sharply on the attorney general and his testimony.
Fine's office also has expanded an investigation into whether senior Gonzales aides improperly considered partisan affiliations when reviewing applicants for nonpolitical career positions.
In response to an Aug. 16 letter from Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Fine wrote: "You identified five issues and asked that we investigate ... The OIG has ongoing investigations that relate to most of the subjects addressed by the attorney general's testimony that you identified."
Gonzales announced his resignation Monday, effective Sept. 17, after 2 ½ years as attorney general.
In March, Gonzales denied he was involved in deliberations that led to the firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year. But internal Justice Department documents showed he attended at least one meeting where the firings were discussed and approved.
Gonzales also told Congress there was little dissent within the Bush administration about the legality of a warrantless electronic-surveillance program launched by the NSA after the Sept. 11 attacks.
But that appeared to be contradicted in testimony by a former deputy attorney general, who said several top Justice officials at one point threatened to resign over a disagreement with the White House.
Without identifying the program, James Comey testified that he and other Justice officials were concerned about its legality, which led to an unusual hospital-room standoff in 2004 between Gonzales and then-Attorney General John Ashcroft. Comey, acting for Ashcroft, had refused to approve the program; Gonzales, then White House counsel, tried to persuade the bedridden Ashcroft to countermand Comey, although Ashcroft refused.
The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday.
Washington Post and Los Angeles Times material is included in this report.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate
Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills
UPDATE - 01:23 PM
SC gov faces 37 charges he broke state ethics laws
UPDATE - 01:33 PM
Obama: US economy has 'core strengths'
Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
general classifieds
Garage & estate salesFurniture & home furnishings
Sporting goods
just listed
8 Drawer Dresser with Attached Mirror - $200
8 seat pecon formal dining table and china hutch - $1500
A American Table, Chairs and Bench - $275
More listings
POST A FREE LISTING
shopping
Give yourself a treat and visit Watson Kennedy's Holiday Open Houses
More minding the store
events for Monday, Nov. 23
- Kimberly Baker Jewelry Launch Party
- Bella Umbrella Holiday Sale
- CraftsGiving
- Beyond Threads Outlet Biannual Clearance Sale
editors' picks
More shopping guides- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
266 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
166 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
165 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
132 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
125 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
91 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
67 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
64 - UW, WSU once again meet to see who's worse
59 - Ranking the Pac
53
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list

