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President George W Bush on Monday accused Democrats in Congress who are seeking no-confidence votes on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales of engaging in "pure political theater." ADVERTISEMENT Brushing aside concerns from Republicans as well as Democrats about the effectiveness of the chief US law enforcement officer, Bush said: "He has got my confidence. Senate Democrats last week announced plans to offer a resolution of no confidence in Gonzales, and two Democrats in the House of Representatives introduced one on Monday. Neither measure is expected to be voted on until after Congress' week-long recess, set to begin on Saturday. Gonzales is the target of widening congressional investigations into the firing last year of nine of the 93 US attorneys. Bush and Gonzales maintain that the ousters were justified though mishandled. Critics charge it seems as if Gonzales politicized the Justice Department and the firing of a number of federal prosecutors. Bush rejected those charges, saying: "I frankly view what's taking place in Washington today as pure political theater."
voting record) of Pennsylvania on Sunday predicted the attorney general may resign before a no-confidence vote was even taken. Six of the 49 Republicans in the 100-member, Democratic-led Senate have urged the attorney general to step down.
voting record) of Florida, a member of the House Republican leadership. The attorney general has said he intends to remain as long as he believes he can be effective and Bush has confidence in him. Bush added that the attorney general's critics "ought to get the job done of passing legislation as opposed to figuring how to be actors on the political theater stage." Busy legislative schedules will likely prevent Senate or House votes on the resolutions until next month, aides said.
voting record) of Alabama, both former US prosecutors, introduced their own resolution of no confidence in Gonzales. "America needs an attorney general who acts in an impartial, judicious and non-partisan fashion, and who places the interests of justice above all else," Schiff said.
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