FBI Director Robert Mueller contradicted Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in testimony before the House Judiciary committee. From the AP story:
WASHINGTON - FBI Director Robert S. Mueller said Thursday the government's terrorist surveillance program was the topic of a 2004 hospital room dispute between top Bush administration officials, contradicting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' sworn Senate testimony.
Mueller was not in the hospital room at the time of the dramatic March 10, 2004, confrontation between then-Attorney General John Ashcroft and presidential advisers Andy Card and Gonzales, who was then serving as White House counsel. Mueller told the House Judiciary Committee he arrived shortly after they left, and spoke with the ailing Ashcroft.
"Did you have an understanding that that the conversation was on TSP?" asked Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas. TSP stands for terrorist surveillance program.
"I had an understanding the discussion was on a NSA program, yes," Mueller answered.
Jackson asked again: "We use 'TSP,' we use 'warrantless wiretapping,' so would I be comfortable in saying that those were the items that were part of the discussion?"
"The discussion was on a national NSA program that has been much discussed, yes," Mueller responded.
And
On Tuesday, Gonzales repeatedly and emphatically denied that the dispute was about the terrorist surveillance program.
Mueller also affirmed, under lawmakers' pointed questioning, that Ashcroft sided against the two White House officials and with then-Deputy Attorney General Jim Comey, who believed the eavesdropping program was illegal.
Mueller's testimony cast fresh doubt on Gonzales' credibility. Hours earlier, Senate Democrats called for a perjury investigation against Gonzales and subpoenaed top presidential aide Karl Rove in a deepening political and legal clash with the Bush administration.
This is really bad news for Gonzales, but it is also bad news for the whole Bush administration. They are already turning on each other and they haven't even been squeezed yet. Imagine what kind of testimony might come out in an impeachment hearing. I still think what we know about the improper and illegal activities of this administration is a fraction of what they have actually been doing. This attempt by Gonzales to strong arm a man recuperating in a hospital room is beyond disgusting, but shows that Gonzo will go to any length for Bush, ethics and the law be damned. This is a contemptible human being. He should be impeached now. Then we can start working our way up the chain. There is no doubt in my mind that an impeachment hearing on Gonzales would ultimately implicate Rove, Cheney, and Bush in wrongdoing and or cover-ups. Let's get this party started!!
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Work and struggle and never accept an evil that you can change -- Andre Gide
