House panel spoils for a fight

Washington: The House Judiciary Committee announced on Monday that it will press towards a constitutional showdown with the administration over the attorney firings scandal, even as embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales vowed to stay on and "fix the problems" that have damaged the reputation and morale of the Justice Department.

John Conyers Jr, the Democrat from Michigan who chairs the judiciary panel, said his committee would vote today on contempt citations for the White House chief of staff, Joshua Bolten, and former White House counsel Harriet Miers, both of whom refused congressional demands for information on the dismissals after President Bush invoked executive privilege.

The move puts House Democrats on a legal collision course with the White House, which said last week that it would not allow the Justice Department to prosecute executive branch officials for being in contempt of Congress.

Gonzales' promise to remain in office, made in written testimony so as to be produced before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday, comes as many Justice Department employees say they are dispirited and have little confidence in their politically wounded leader.

Most of Gonzales' senior staff members have resigned or are on the way out. Several outside candidates turned down chances to be considered for the job of Gonzales' deputy, and more than a half-dozen other top positions remain filled by temporary appointees.

Some of the department's key legislative priorities, including intelligence law revisions and anti-crime proposals, have also been bogged down on account of the fight with Democrats over the prosecutor firings.

"It takes away from normal work," one recently departed Justice official said about the persistent controversy over Gonzales' role in the firings and the use of improper political considerations in hiring career employees. "It obviously has a serious impact," said the former official, who would discuss the internal workings of the department only if not identified.

Many lawmakers, including some Republicans, have said Gonzales should resign. However, in his testimony, released on Monday, Gonzales said: "I could walk away or I could devote my time, effort and energy to fix the problems. Since I have never been one to quit, I decided that the best course of action was to remain here."

"I will continue to make efforts to ensure that my staff and others within the department have the appropriate experience and judgment so that previous mistakes will not be repeated," he said.