The Truster

CAMP DAVID, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bush issued fresh support for embattled U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Saturday, saying there was no evidence of wrongdoing in the firings of eight federal prosecutors.

Bush also said Gonzales, the nation's top law enforcement officer, was providing documents to Congress and would "tell the truth" when he testifies about the matter before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April.

"For a change," he didn't add, though he should have.

"Attorney General Al Gonzales is an honorable and honest man and he has my full confidence," Bush said.

"I will remind you there is no credible evidence that there has been any wrongdoing," he added.

Because in the Bush administration, telling Congress things that aren't true isn't wrong? Because people often exercise the right to avoid self-incrimination in the 5th Amendment when they've done nothing wrong? Because multiple Republican (former) US Attorneys aren't telling stories of wrongdoing?

In fact, Mr. Gonzales himself has previously admitted that 'mistakes were made', which pretty much requires that something wrong, even if not criminal, was done. Gonzales may have Bush's full confidence, despite the misstatements to Congress, the memory lapses, the way the prosecutors were fired, the egregious abuses of power by the FBI, despite it all. But "there is no credible evidence" of any wrongdoing at this point? Please. Get real, Mr. Bush. Not even you can be that incredulous.

Update: Speaking of which:

About one-third of the nearly four dozen U.S. attorney's jobs that have changed hands since President Bush began his second term have been filled by the White House and the Justice Department with trusted administration insiders.

The people chosen as chief federal prosecutors on a temporary or permanent basis since early 2005 include 10 senior aides to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, according to an analysis of government records. Several came from the White House or other government agencies. Some lacked experience as prosecutors or had no connection to the districts in which they were sent to work, the records and biographical information show.

The new U.S. attorneys filled vacancies created through natural turnover in addition to the firings of eight prosecutors last year that have prompted a political uproar and congressional investigations.

No other administration in contemporary times has had such a clear pattern of filling chief prosecutors' jobs with its own staff members, said experts on U.S. attorney's offices. Those experts said the emphasis in appointments traditionally has been on local roots and deference to home-state senators, whose support has been crucial to win confirmation of the nominees.