House GOP Stands Behind Gonzales

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said in a statement that "it's no secret that we and others had long-standing concerns about voter fraud in a number of places," including Milwaukee. Fratto said Democrats' "breathless reaction to any mention of Karl Rove is more than a little bit weird."

Friedrich also provided further details about the extent of GOP efforts to remove then-U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias of New Mexico, the target of complaints from Rove, Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) and New Mexico Republican Party officials.

Friedrich told investigators that he met twice last year with New Mexico Republicans who had complaints about Iglesias and his handling of a criminal investigation of Democrats. They made similar complaints to Rove, Domenici and Monica M. Goodling, a Gonzales aide who has since resigned, Friedrich said. Iglesias was later fired.

From the opening moments of yesterday's hearing, House Judiciary Republicans sought to counter almost every Democratic accusation against Gonzales, providing a stark contrast with Senate Republicans, who gave the attorney general a chilly reception three weeks ago. At that hearing on April 19, one of the Senate Judiciary Committee's most conservative members, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), called on the attorney general to resign. That demand was heard only from Democrats yesterday.

GOP members repeatedly accused Democrats of searching, but failing to find, scandal in the appointment and removal of U.S. attorneys. "We're acting around this place like U.S. attorneys are the product of the Immaculate Conception, and once they've been created that cannot be undone," said Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.).

Republicans also forced Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.) to apologize for calling one Republican a "target" of a federal inquiry. Media reports about Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) have said that he is under scrutiny over his ties to a lobbying firm. In Justice Department nomenclature, the target of a probe is in imminent danger of being indicted.

Some Republicans highlighted investigations of Democrats to paint a broader picture of corruption. Sensenbrenner demanded that Gonzales indict Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) in a bribery investigation that has involved legal wrangling over evidence. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) protested the fact that Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), who is also under FBI investigation, is in charge of the Appropriations Committee's panel on Justice Department funding.

Democrats sought to keep the focus on the U.S. attorney firings, expressing exasperation at Gonzales's frequent referrals to Sampson, who coordinated the dismissals with the White House. "You'll have to talk to Mr. Sampson about the list," Gonzales said at one point.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) joined other Democrats in challenging Gonzales's ability to lead the Justice Department under a cloud of scandal. "If most people believe that the United States attorney general has not told the truth about why these U.S. attorneys were fired, how can they have confidence in your job?" Nadler asked.

"I don't believe that's an accurate statement," Gonzales said. "And what I'm trying to do in appearances like this is to set the record straight."

Graves said in an interview Wednesday that he was asked to leave his post as U.S. attorney in January 2006 -- the same month that his name appeared on a firing list compiled by Sampson. The removal makes Graves the ninth U.S. attorney known to have been dismissed last year and conflicts with testimony from Gonzales and others that the effort was limited to eight prosecutors.

Graves said he was told simply that he should resign to "give another person a chance." He said he did not oppose the department's request, because he had been planning to return to private practice.

Staff writer Amy Goldstein and staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.