Specter praises move by Gonzales
But he also said it was not the time to pile on. Casey said the change at Justice was overdue.
WASHINGTON - Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa.), who had accused Alberto R. Gonzales of allowing the Department of Justice to descend into dysfunctionality, yesterday welcomed the attorney general's resignation and said the time for recriminations had ended.
"This is a very tough day for Alberto Gonzales," said Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the person who presided over his confirmation. "I'm only going to say positive things about him. He has had considerable criticism. Today, we're ready to start a new chapter in the Department of Justice."
Specter immediately ruled himself out as a replacement for Gonzales - "that's a total nonstarter," he said - but suggested that a former or current senator might have a relatively smooth confirmation.
When asked about the possible nomination of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Specter was effusive in his praise.
"I think he is a first-rate prospect," Specter said by phone from Poland during the continuation of a trip to Russia and Eastern Europe. "I think he has done an excellent job on homeland security. I'd give him an A rating."
Specter said he was also in favor of continuing the investigation into the firing of U.S. attorneys - one of the contributing factors that led to the controversy over Gonzales - and said that Congress might consider legislating terms of service for the position to avoid politically motivated terminations.
Pennsylvania's junior senator, Democrat Bob Casey, said in a statement that Gonzales' resignation was long overdue.
"After months of refusing to step aside, Alberto Gonzales has finally done the right thing to begin restoring confidence in the leadership of the Justice Department," Casey said. "The president's failure to make a change over many months eroded confidence in our system of justice. It is time for the appointment of a truly independent attorney general, not another administration loyalist."
