Gonzales Testifies Before Senate Panel, Part II

The transcript is continued from Part I

LEAHY: Before we start the clock on Senator Sessions, just so we'll know what the timing is, after Senator Sessions will be Senator Schumer, then Senator Graham, then Senator Durbin.

Go ahead, Senator Sessions.

SEN. JEFF SESSIONS, R-ALA.: Mr. Attorney General, I think the thing that caused a lot of us concern was, you had a press conference at the Department of Justice. It was a formal matter to address these issues. And in that press conference you stated, "I was not involved in seeing any memos; was not involved in any discussions about what was going on."

SESSIONS: And in a later press conference you said, "I don't recall being involved in deliberations involving the question of whether or not a United States attorney should or should not be asked to resign. I didn't focus on specific concerns about individuals."

Now, Mr. Sampson then had testified that there was a meeting, a final meeting, I guess, when this was discussed in some detail and that you were present.

Do you recall that meeting and where it took place?

GONZALES: Senator, I have searched my memory. I have no recollection of the meeting. My schedule shows a meeting for 9:00 on November 27th, but I have no recollection of that meeting.

My understanding is, as I reviewed Mr. Sampson's public testimony, was that he had hazy recollections about it as well.

But, in any event, I have no recollection of that meeting.

SESSIONS: Well, do you recall who Mr. Sampson said was there present along with you?

GONZALES: Senator, I recall looking at the documentation about -- on the calendar -- who would be there.