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Another Memory Lapse by Alberto Gonzales

Alberto Gonzales' memory lapses are well documented, particularly when he testifies before Congress. It may therefore be unsurprising that

Gonzales told investigators he did not remember whether he took home notes regarding the government's most sensitive national security programs and did not know they contained classified information despite notations on the papers that they were "eyes only -- top secret," according to a report released this morning.

Here's what Gonzales did that he couldn't remember: [more ...]

The Justice Department's inspector general concluded that Gonzales had improperly handled materials about the government's most sensitive national security programs, carrying the notes home in an unlocked briefcase for an "indeterminate" period of time. Gonzales failed to keep them in a safe at his Northern Virginia home because he "could not remember the combination," according to the report.

Can't remember anything about the hiring decisions that the Justice Department made when he was AG. Can't remember what he knew about torture at Guantanamo. Can't remember if he violated the law by removing classified information from his office. Can't remember the combination to his safe.

You did a heckuva job, Gonzo. A presidential medal of some sort is clearly in your future.

This is also unsurprising:

Improper handling of classified material can result in criminal charges, but prosecutors in the department's National Security Division declined to bring a case after reviewing the allegations and consulting with senior career officials at Justice, according to the report and lawyers involved in the case.

Prosecute one of their own? The guy in charge, no less? Not likely. Any "career prosecutors" who are still at DOJ, and so highly placed as to be consulted on that issue, probably owe their jobs to Gonzales. Shouldn't an independent counsel, one who is removed from a conflict of interest that inheres in leaving a charging decision up to DOJ, be appointed to make that call?

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  • Display: Sort:
    How did this guy get a high school (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Anne on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 01:39:21 PM EST
    diploma, much less get into college and law school?  And rise to be Attorney General of the US?  Oh, right - friend of GWB.

    If it were possible, I think he ought to be prosecuted for repeatedly insulting the intelligence of the American people; my dogs remember more than Gonzales does.

    One of these days (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Edger on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 01:44:18 PM EST
    he's going to forget that he doesn't remember.

    I hope he does it on television.

    Gonzales knew he forgot (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by ding7777 on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 01:47:48 PM EST
    the safe's combination and did nothing about reclaiming it - what's the point of the safe, then?

    You can't make this stuff up. (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Faust on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 01:49:24 PM EST


    On CNN Kelli Arena (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 02:14:01 PM EST
    was just going through the details of this and she could not keep the tone of utter disbelief out of her voice.

    I still can't figure out whether Gonzales is really monumentally dim or just spectacularly clever and corrupt.  I can argue myself into either one.

    I think he's both dim and corrupt. (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by inclusiveheart on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 02:20:38 PM EST
    I'll add contemptuous as well.

    Parent
    I think he's good at following (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Anne on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 02:20:46 PM EST
    orders, and likes being the teacher's pet; I'd be shocked if he had an independent thought.

    That he hasn't landed on his feet ought to tell us something.

    Parent

    Funny how when Sandy Berger did something (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by fuzzyone on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 02:37:12 PM EST
    very similar it was considered a prosecutable offense by the Bush DOJ

    well (none / 0) (#2)
    by connecticut yankee on Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 01:41:19 PM EST
    I think he has some kind of brain tumor or a learning disability.  Forgetting the combination on top of everything else? I mean that's just sad.