Washington - The top US law enforcement officer, Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales, announced his resignation Monday after
months of allegations he was behind politically motivated firings of
federal prosecutors.
Gonzales told reporters at a press conference that he informed
Bush of his decision on Sunday and that his last day in office will
be September 17. US President George W Bush, who has stood by his
justice minister, was expected to make remarks later from his ranch
in Crawford, Texas.
'It has been one of my greatest privileges to lead the Department
of Justice,' Gonzales said in a brief statement before walking away
from the podium without taking questions.
Gonzales has been under intense pressure to resign from Democrats
in Congress and even some of Bush's Republicans who believe he has
not been honest about his role in the dismissal of eight federal
prosecutors. Democrats also allege he has abused the country's anti-
terrorism laws.
Gonzales, 52, has been close to the president since Bush was
governor of Texas and served as his top legal aid in the White House
before taking over at the Justice Department in February 2005.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a longtime critic of Gonzales,
said his resignation will not end the investigation into any
potential White House role in the sacking of the prosecutors.
'Alberto Gonzales was never the right man for this job. He lacked
independence, he lacked judgment...' Reid said in a statement. 'This
resignation is not the end of the story.'
Senate Democrats in July called for a perjury investigation of
Gonzales, charging that he made conflicting statements during
congressional testimony about the firing of the prosecutors.
Gonzales had also come in for sharp criticism for allegedly
overstepping the bounds of anti-terrorism laws in permitting
surveillance of US citizens.
Gonzales is the latest to announce his departure from the
administration as Bush heads into his final stretch in office. Bush's
closest political advisor and deputy chief of staff Karl Rove
announced earlier this month that he was leaving.
Rove had also been the subject of allegations about a potential
White House role in the dismissal of the prosecutors. Rove, like
Gonzales, has been with Bush since his days in Texas. Rove has
refused to appear before the congressional panels probing the case.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
USA
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