Ethics

September 10, 2007, TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today announced the following reappointment:

COMMISSION ON ETHICS
(Senate confirmation required)

Albert Massey, III, 64, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida attorney with Massey, Coican & Schuster, LLC, reappointed for a term beginning September 10, 2007, and ending June 30, 2009.

Source: State of Florida

Report details abuses within lending system

September 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released a report on the student loan system entitled “Second Report on Marketing Practices in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.” The report discusses the findings of Chairman Kennedy's investigation of inappropriate marketing practices in the student loan industry.    » read more »

September 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Nancy Pelosi made the following statement today upon sending the Ethics and Lobbying Reform bill to President Bush for his signature:    » read more »

September 4, 2007 -- MARLBORO – New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed a package of bills today designed to further improve the ethical climate in New Jersey by eliminating dual office holding for elected officials and – for the first time – creating a specific crime to target individuals who use public resources for unauthorized purposes and increase penalties for those found guilty of public corruption. The Governor also signed legislation requiring the Office of Legislative Services to post all legislators’ voting records online.    » read more »

August 30, 2007 -- “I am pleased that Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine will look into my concerns about potentially false, misleading or inappropriate testimony by the Attorney General. I look forward to the Inspector General’s findings on the unprecedented firings of nine United States Attorneys, the improper political hiring of career officials within the Justice Department, the misuse of National Security Letters, and the efforts to bypass the Department’s finding that a warrantless surveillance program was without legal basis.    » read more »

August 28, 2007 -- After years of misleading the public and promoting illegal government action, Alberto Gonzales finally resigned his post as attorney general yesterday. One of the many "loyal Bushies" to resign recently under a cloud of scandal, Gonzales had lost the confidence of the American people long ago. Editorials from around the country are echoing the sentiments of the American people, who are glad to see Gonzales go but reluctant to believe the Bush White House will turn over a new leaf and put their poisonous brand of partisan politics behind them.    » read more »

Washington DC | August 27, 2007 -- Barack Obama today released the following statement on the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"I have long believed that Alberto Gonzales subverted justice to promote a political agenda, and so I am pleased that he has finally resigned today.

The President needs to nominate an Attorney General who will be the people's lawyer, not the President's lawyer, and in an Obama Administration that person will first and foremost defend and promote the rights and liberties enshrined in our Constitution," said Obama.    » read more »

08/27/2007 -- Joe Biden, senior member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following statement today after the announcement of Attorney General Gonzales' resignation:

"As I've said before, Attorney General Gonzales has lost the confidence of the vast majority of the American people and the Congress. His resignation is long overdue.    » read more »

WASHINGTON -- Today, Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd released the following statement on Alberto Gonzales' resignation:

"Mr. Gonzales' Justice Department became a political wing of the Bush Administration and his resignation is long overdue.

I will only vote to confirm a nominee for Attorney General who is truly independent and who will guarantee reforms that restore and uphold the Constitution."

Source: Chris Dodd campaign

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Governor Bill Richardson, campaigning today in Iowa, released the following statement regarding the resignation of US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"The resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is long overdue. The President must nominate an Attorney General who is a lawyer for the American people not a political arm of the White House."

Source: Bill Richardson campaign

Aug 27, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement following the announcement of the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Edwards has repeatedly called for Gonzales to resign, the first time on March 13, 2007.    » read more »

Aug 27, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Commenting today upon the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Senator John Edwards released the following statement. Edwards first called for Gonzales' resignation on March 13, 2007.

"Better late than never."

Source: John Edwards campaign

08/27/2007 -- Senator Bernie Sanders months ago called on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign. The senator had voiced concern about privacy abuses by the FBI and the lingering controversy over the firing of federal prosecutors. “It was past time for him to go. He had not been honest with Congress. His credibility was shot. He has not respected the Constitution,” Sanders said.

Sanders added that the confirmation process could be a healthy refresher course in constitutional values.    » read more »

August 27, 2007 -- “Under this Attorney General and this President, the Department of Justice suffered a severe crisis of leadership that allowed our justice system to be corrupted by political influence. It is a shame, and it is the Justice Department, the American people and the dedicated professionals of our law enforcement community who have suffered most from it.    » read more »

08/27/2007 -- WASHINGTON – Senator John Kerry issued the following statement today, following the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez.

“Alberto Gonzales turned the Justice Department into a political arm of the White House and he should have resigned long ago,” Kerry said.

“From the firings of the US Attorneys to evasion about illegal wiretapping, Gonzales single-handedly damaged the integrity of our legal system and subverted efforts to get to the truth.    » read more »