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Tester calls for Gonzales to step down
Posted on May 22

By MARY CLARE JALONICK of the Associated Press

WASHINGTON - One of Montana's two Democratic senators has called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign, while the other says he is "deeply concerned" about his conduct in office.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said Tuesday that Gonzales "no longer enjoys the confidence of the Congress or the American people that he can effectively serve as America's top law enforcement officer."

Montana's other Democratic senator, Max Baucus, said the attorney general "has created a situation that doesn't reflect well on his office or the country" and but stopped short of calling for him to resign.

Two of their Democratic colleagues, Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California, have said they will seek a nonbinding Senate no-confidence vote, saying the Republican attorney general is too weakened to run the Justice Department. The department is embroiled in probes of the firings of eight federal prosecutors and allegations that it has become too politicized.

Tester said he would support the no-confidence motion.

"Attorney General Gonzales is now involved in multiple scandals, crippling his ability to do his job," he said. "Montanans and Americans expect much more."

Tester joins a growing bipartisan chorus of senators calling for Gonzales to step down. On Sunday, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee predicted Gonzales would resign before the Senate vote.

Baucus said he is deeply concerned about how things have been handled in the attorney general's office.

"How is he able to keep his eye on the ball and protect the homeland, crack down on drug trafficking, and prosecute terrorists while all this is going on?" Baucus asked. "I think Mr. Gonzales should search his soul and ask himself whether staying in office is the right thing to do for his country."

He added, though, that he believes the no-confidence measure is motivated by politics.

"Although I would likely for vote it, I'm not interested in the U.S. Senate taking politically driven votes of no-confidence," he said.

President Bush on Monday called the vote "pure political theater" and stood by his embattled friend.


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