Klobuchar: Gonzales’ Legacy ‘Tarnished’

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., criticized outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, saying he allowed political considerations “to creep too closely to the core of our legal system.”

In a statement, Klobuchar said, “Our nation’s chief law enforcement officer must be the guardian of the rule of law and he must command the highest degree of public trust.  This Attorney General did not.”  She added that Gonzales has left “a legacy of justice tarnished.”

Klobuchar also noted the targeting of former U.S. Attorney Thomas Heffelfinger by Gonzales’ Department of Justice, saying, “the professionalism and independence of the U.S. Attorneys was undermined by rank partisan politics.  Unbelievably, even Minnesota’s own highly-respected U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger somehow got put on a ‘hit list’ for removal.  This was an outrage.”

Klobuchar called on President George W. Bush to appoint a new attorney general who “will be able to uphold the rule of law, restore the public’s trust and allow the professionals in the Department of Justice to do their jobs once again without fear or favor.”