Gonzales draws criticism from panel chief (Sensenbrenner) "stonewalling"

[norml]

Thursday, April 6, 2006 · Last updated 7:50 a.m. PT

Gonzales draws criticism from panel chief

By MARK SHERMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER


Attorney Alberto Gonzales testifies on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, April 5, 2006 before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing on his department's fiscal 2007 budget needs. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

WASHINGTON -- The Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee pointedly criticized Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Thursday for "stonewalling" by refusing to answer questions about the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said Gonzales was frustrating his panel's oversight of the Justice Department and the controversial surveillance by declining to provide information about how the program is reviewed inside the administration and by whom.

"How can we discharge our oversight if, every time we ask a pointed question, we're told the program is classified?" Sensenbrenner asked Gonzales near the start of a lengthy hearing on the department's activities. "I think that ... is stonewalling."

Gonzales did not budge, defending the eavesdropping as lawful and telling Sensenbrenner and other lawmakers on the panel that he would not discuss classified matters.

"I do not think we are thumbing our nose at the Congress or the courts," Gonzales said in response to a question from Michigan Rep. John Conyers, the committee's senior Democrat.


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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Gonzales_Eavesdropping.html

[Frustratedlady]

1. They aren't thumbing their noses,

they are flipping the bird. Each time they pull this, they should be taken into closed session and made to disclose the information. Maybe they would quit this stonewalling. No one will stand up to them.

[badgervan]

3. Total Awareness Program Alive and Well

I would bet the house that all of us are being spyed upon by our own government - no specific reason needed. Why else would Gonzo and others be so defensive about giving us any info on this program of "total awareness" that has been going on for years with the shrub's approval? Smells like Cheney, no?
We had best wake up, fellow citizens. This is illegal and immoral stuff. If the shrub were a true "Christian", as he so often states, none of this illegal crap would be going on in the United States of America. This is the kind of despicable behavior that a Stalin a Mao, a Pol Pot used to pull. Why do our elected reps lay down like puppies before such clearly illegal actions by this administration?
At least we have a few, like Russ Feingold, who seem to understand the importance of what this president's actions are doing to us as a country. Mark my words: many members of this administration will be serving hard time in the not too distant future.

[Supersedeas]

2. Hand out for the money and no answers for where money is going

More vagaries and generalities from BushCo.

[madmark]

4. a republican chairman now has an interest in a response from the

admin re warrantless domestic spying; election year in effect.