Welcome to Gonzales Watch - Blawging the Ex-Attorney General

The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein reports that David C. Iglesias, the recently fired Republican U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, received praise from Justice Dept. officials for his work training others on voter fraud allegations.

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse confirmed that Iglesias was invited to speak at voter fraud seminars  twice.

And were it not for his pre-existing commitment and patriotic olbigations as a Naval Reserve officer last summer, Iglesias would have trained others at another voter fraud seminar last summer.

Time magazine is reporting that the Dept. of Justice announced that it plans to release more documents “by the close of business” today in the politically charged scandal over U.S. Attorney firings.

Fans and opponents of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, grab your popcorn, drinks, and munchies!

C-SPAN is hosting an Alberto Gonzales talk-a-thon!

Recapping some of the Attorney General’s lighter and darker moments working for fellow Texan George W. Bush, the network explained that:

With the political row growing over the dismissal of eight U.S. Attorneys last December, we’re reviewing Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales’ tenure at the Justice Department. First his 2004 nomination by Pres. Bush followed by his 2005 confirmation hearing. And afterwards, his swearing in as Attorney General.

Zoinks! Y’all tune in now. Tonight at 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST / 6 p.m. MST / 5 p.m. PST.

The U.S. Senate floor was buzzing with comments today over S.214 (the ‘United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007′), a Bill that would amend 28 U.S.C. § 541, the federal law government the appointment of U.S. Attorneys.

The measure is co-sponsored by Sen. Diane Feinstein (Dem. - Cal.), Sen. Patrick Leahy (Dem. - Vt.), Sen. Arlen Specter (Rep. - Pa.), Sen. Charles Schumer (Dem. - NY), and six other Senators. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for debate.

It attempts to put a check on the appointment of U.S. Attorneys by whatever administration is in office, by delaying a prosecutor’s appointment in the district until either:

`(1) the qualification of a United States attorney for such district appointed by the President under section 541 of this title; or

`(2) the expiration of 120 days after appointment by the Attorney General under this section.

This is an attempt by Congress to keep the power of the Attorney General and the President in check.

You can tune in to C-SPAN to hear the debate.

Technorati: U.S. Attorney, U.S. Senate, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, White House, Sen. Diane Feinstein, Sen. Patrick Leahy