Gonzales Resignation Marks Departure of Key Figure in Push to Undermine Americans’ Freedom and Privacy
Bush loyalist’s legacy includes pivotal role in reshaping federal courts,
reversing precedents protecting privacy
Washington, D.C. – Cathleen Mahoney, legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said Alberto Gonzales’ resignation marks the departure of a leading figure in the Bush administration’s calculated campaign to reshape the federal courts and alter policy in a way that reverses legal precedents and threatens the right to privacy and other long-held constitutional protections.
"Gonzales’ adherence to Bush’s far-right ideological agenda eventually erased his credibility with the public and Congress, and will continue to have an adverse impact on Americans in years to come," Mahoney said. "Americans want an independent attorney general who puts upholding constitutional protections, like the right to privacy, before a political agenda. Without question, Gonzales’ tenure at the Justice Department has hurt the agency’s image. We urge the White House and the Senate to work to help restore Americans’ respect for the nation’s top law-enforcement agency."
As attorney general, Gonzales continued his work on federal judgeships he established in his previous role as the president’s top lawyer in the White House. As White House counsel, Gonzales oversaw the selection and nomination of more than 200 judges who are serving lifetime appointments to the federal bench, including the pivotal federal courts of appeals, where many have clear anti-choice records.
"Gonzales' legacy includes laying the groundwork for the nominations of divisive Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito to lifetime appointments on the U.S. Supreme Court," Mahoney said. "Both nominees told the U.S. Senate they supported upholding legal precedent, yet they voted on April 18 to uphold the first-ever federal ban on abortion, effectively reversing Supreme Court precedent and rolling back key protections that have been guaranteed since Roe v. Wade. It is critical to note that Gonzales’ successor will enforce this new federal statute, which could involve the Justice Department’s review of women’s private medical records."
