DOJ to Gonzales: Smooth Move

POOR BEDSIDE MANNER Gonzales

Crooks and Liars is reporting on a little-discussed March 2004 Gonzales blunder that nearly cost the Justice Department their entire senior leadership. While musically gifted then-Attorney General John Ashcroft was hospitalized following an emergency gall bladder operation and reportedly "hallucinating under medication," who but Alberto Gonzales should pay him a visit? Gonzales apparently considered it the perfect time to get Ashcroft to sign a document approving the president's warrantless eavesdropping program. But even in his haze, Ashcroft refused.

Following news of the goodwill visit, "as many as 30 top DOJ officials" threatened to resign. Given Gonzales's upcoming no-confidence vote, now would be the perfect time for one of his Iran-Contra-esque "I do not recall" lines.

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