Iowa’s two U.S. Senators and three of Iowa’s five congressmen have issued statements today following the announcement that the U.S. Attorney General is leaving his post.
Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, praised out-going Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for his public service, but Grassley said it appears Gonzales made "management missteps and didn’t handle the spotlight well when they were exposed."
Grassley urged Democrats not to drag President Bush’s choice of a replacement "through the mud."
Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, said Gonzales has "done the right thing" by resigning. Harkin accused Gonzales of "blind loyalty to the President" and Harkin said Gonzales had a lack of devotion to the constitution.
Congressman Bruce Braley, a Democrat from Waterloo, had been among a group who were seeking impeachment of Gonzales. Braley said Gonzales had "placed politics over justice" and had lost the public’s confidence.
Congressman Leonard Boswell, a Democrat from Des Moines, said Gonzales ran the Justice Department in "far too political" a manner.
Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat from Mount Vernon, said Gonzales had mishandled the firing of U.S. attorneys and "crippled" his ability to run his own agency.
You may read each of their written statements over at The Blog.
