Keep spewing, Gonzo. People ARE paying attention!
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/05/gonzales-spying/Gonzales Contradicts His Sworn Testimony About Bush’s Warrantless Spying Program
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales directly contradicted his 2006 sworn testimony about the NSA domestic surveillance program during a press conference today.
Gonzales’ contradiction comes weeks after he reaffirmed his 2006 testimony as accurate, following the extraordinary testimony by former Justice official James Comey about the White House’s efforts to sanction its domestic spying.
During the 2006 hearing, Gonzales was asked about internal objections to the NSA wiretapping program. He denied that there was any “serious disagreement” about “the program the president has confirmed.”
GONZALES: Senator, here is a response that I feel that I can give with respect to recent speculation or stories about disagreements. There has not been any serious disagreement, including — and I think this is accurate — there has not been any serious disagreement about the program that the president has confirmed. There have been disagreements about other matters regarding operations, which I cannot get into. I will also say –
In light of Comey’s recent testimony, a group of senators asked Gonzales if this testimony was still accurate. The Justice Department last month chose not to retract Gonzales’ statements.
However, during a press briefing today on gang prosecutions, Gonzales directly contradicted this 2006 testimony, telling reporters that he could not speak about Comey’s testimony because it “related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people.”
QUESTION: Mr. Attorney General, last month, Jim Comey testified about a visit you and Andy Card made to John Ashcroft’s hospital bed. Can you tell us your side of the story? Why were you there? And did Mr. Comey testify truthfully about it? Did he remember it correctly?
GONZALES: Mr. Comey’s testimony related to a highly classified program which the president confirmed to the American people sometime ago. And, because it’s a highly classified program, I’m not going to comment on his testimony.
According to Gonzales’ latest version, James Comey was discussing the NSA’s domestic wiretapping program — the program that President Bush has confirmed — when he testified last month. That means Gonzales was lying in 2006.
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
