Welcome to Gonzales Watch - Blawging the Ex-Attorney General

U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales’ credibility for truth-telling hit a new low yesterday when FBI Director Robert Mueller told Congress that warrantless wiretapping was a hotly disputed issue within the Bush administration when John Ashcroft was U.S. Attorney and Gonzales was White House Counsel.

The revelation came when Mueller testified under oath before the House Judiciary Committee about warrantless wiretapping and President Bush’s Terrorist Surveillance Program run through the National Security Agency.

The disclosure of then White House Counsel Gonzales’ late-night dash to the hospital room where former Attorney General John Ashcroft was gravely ill with a pancreatitis attack, with Deputy A.G. James Comey was at his bedside.

According to Comey’s testimony, Gonzales tried to make an end-run around a highly debated program. Without disclosing sensitive details of the program, it was subsequently revealed that the Justice Department had already concluded that warrantless wiretapping under President Bush’s program was unconstitutional.

Mueller’s confirmation that warrantless wiretapping was hotly debated is at odds with Gonzales’ current and prior testimony before Congress. It clearly looks like Gonzales lied about the controversy and took a chance that he wouldn’t get caught. Will he face any consequences? That’s the real question.