Ex-Attorney General Gonzales backs Sotomayor

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has received both support and opposition from Republican figures. One of her latest (and perhaps most eye-raising) GOP backers comes from a chief legal eagle during the Bush White House.

In an interview with NPR, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales backed Sotomayor’s confirmation to the top tribunal. “Based on the answers to the (confirmation) questions, I think that yes, she should be confirmed,” said Gonzales who also opined that questions made about her supposed “empathy” while judging were fair game.

Gonzales-who quit his post two years ago amid several scandals- will soon start teaching a political science course at Texas Tech University. His hiring to head the “contemporary issues in the executive branch” course has upset some members of the Texas Tech faculty:

As of (July 24th) 45 Texas Tech faculty members have signed a petition objecting to Gonzalez. In the petition it states his hiring is objectionable because the Chancellor should not be involved in the hiring of faculty. It also states the hiring is against the University's statement of ethical principles.

Image- CBS News
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, NPR, Think Progress, AP, KCBD

Spain considers dropping case vs. ex-Bush officials

Spain's top prosecutor rejected going ahead with a criminal case against six former Bush administration officials including ex-attorney general Alberto Gonzales.

Spanish Attorney General Candido Conde-Pumpido said that the case against Gonzales and co. for their role in torturing detainees at Guantanamo Bay had "no merit" and that the case should be directed at those “who physically carried…out" the abuses. Furthermore, she warned that the case could easily become a “toy in the hands of people who are trying to do a political action."

The ultimate decision on whether or not the case moves forward rests on the shoulders of investigating judge Baltasar Garzon. He is best-known for bringing charges against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1998 though he has also led investigations against abuses in Argentina and El Salvador.

Politics may come into play since Spain is eager to strengthen ties with the U.S.:

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is seeking to improve U.S. relations, which have been strained since he pulled Spanish troops out of Iraq in 2004 after al-Qaeda bomb attacks in Madrid. Zapatero, a Socialist, met President Barack Obama on April 5 in Prague, where Obama said he was happy to call Zapatero a “friend.”

Image- BBC News (“Some (Gitmo) inmates were subjected to controversial interrogation techniques.”)
Online Sources- BBC News, CNN, Bloomberg, AFP, The Latin Americanist

Notable Quotables: Stay

“If I were they, I would think carefully before setting foot outside the United States. They are now, and forever in the future, at risk of arrest. Until this is sorted out, they are in their own legal black hole.”

--- British human rights attorney Philippe Sands remarked in reference to the six former White House officials indicted by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon.

As we recently mentioned, ex-attorney general Alberto Gonzales and five others have been named in a criminal case regarding human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Garzon is best-known for issuing an arrest warrant against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet several years ago. Garzon’s tireless crusade has earned him the wrath of supporters of the late Spanish fascist strongman Francisco Franco as well as criticism from Venezuela’s government.

(Hat tip: The Daily Dish.)

Image- Der Spiegel (Alberto Gonzales testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2007).
Online Sources- The New Yorker, The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK, The Daily Dish

Irony thy name is Gonzales

Ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales penned an op/ed article in the Houston Chronicle last week discussing the increasingly violent situation in Mexico. He described his support for the White House’s border plan for Mexico though not without spinning that the “Bush Administration worked hard to provide the government of Mexico with law enforcement assets, training, and intelligence.”

The latter half of his article highlighted the need to control the flow of illegal arms across the border into Mexico. Yet it’s his views on “correctional reforms” which should raise some eyebrows:

He also said Mexico should have oral, public trials of major organized crime figures rather than having trials consist of written testimony read by a judge behind closed doors.

Doing things in private breeds corruption, he said.

That coming from one of the main backers of the controversial procedures at the Guantanamo Bay jail and who reportedly called the Geneva Conventions "obsolete.”

As we mentioned yesterday, Gonzales and five others have been named by Spanish officials in a criminal investigation regarding human rights abuses at Gitmo.

Image- BBC News (circa 2007 photo of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales)
Online Sources- Houston Chronicle, rawstory.com, The Latin Americanist, ABC News

Baltasar Garzon aims at ex-Bush officials

The Spanish judge famous for trying to prosecute the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet has now set his sights on six former Bush era officials.

Judge Baltasar Garzon has requested that prosecutors examine a complaint filed last year against former attorney general Alberto Gonzales and five others. The criminal case corresponds to allegations over human rights abuses at the controversial prison camp at the Guantanamo Bay military base. Spanish officials will decide if the case has merit; “if the case is opened, an investigation would be required, testimony and so on. There is a long way to go," said one senior Spanish official over the weekend.

There has been little comment from Gonzales and the others accused under an international law doctrine known as the principle of universal justice:

"The charges as related to me make no sense," (ex-undersecretary of defense for policy Douglas) Feith said Saturday. "They criticize me for promoting a controversial position that I never advocated"…

Spanish law allows courts to reach beyond national borders in cases of torture or war crimes under a doctrine of universal justice, though the government has recently said it hopes to limit the scope of the legal process.

Garzon became famous for bringing charges against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in 1998, and he and other Spanish judges have agreed to investigate alleged abuses everywhere from Tibet to Argentina's "dirty war," El Salvador and Rwanda.

Still, the country's record in prosecuting such cases has been spotty at best, with only one suspect extradited to Spain so far.

(Hat tip: FARK.com).

Image- CTV.ca (“Former-Attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales testifies during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2005.”)
Online Sources- FARK.com, Los Angeles Times, washingtonpost.com, New York Times

Senate confirms Eric Holder

On Monday night the Senate confirmed Eric Holder as the next U.S. Attorney General. The career federal prosecutor, judge and Washington lawyer thus becomes the country’s first African-American Attorney General.

Holder’s links to certain Latin American-related affairs was a point of controversy after he was picked by Barack Obama last December. In confirmation hearings last month, Holder was grilled over his role at the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the Clinton era including the 1999 pardons to sixteen convicted Puerto Rican nationalists. Holder’s views during the hearings against torture and waterboarding were later criticized by ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

In addition, several lawmakers questioned Holder’s role at the DOJ during the Elian Gonzales saga and his work for negotiating a plea deal over Chiquita Bands’ hiring of Colombian paramilitaries.

Despite doubts by some Congressman, Holder won bipartisan support and backing from law enforcement groups:

Even though 21 GOP senators voted against him, Holder’s nomination was never in danger. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of Holder’s biggest critics, announced last week he was backing the nomination, and that sealed the deal...

Holder also had widespread support from outside advocacy groups, including law enforcement associations. Former FBI Director Louis Freeh and other prominent Bush DOJ officials backed him as well, undermining any potential GOP opposition to his nomination.

Image- AFP
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, politico.com, ABC News, Vivirlatino, CNN

Alberto Gonzales defiant in NPR interview

Ex-U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales claimed that he will not be prosecuted for allowing the use of torture under the Bush White House.

In an interview given yesterday to NPR, Gonzales declared that he and others at the Department of Justice would be exempt from possible criminal prosecution. “I don't see a criminal prosecution for me, nor for anyone that I'm aware of, because again . . . people acted in good faith” said the former top cop.

Gonzales also lashed out at Eric Holder- President Barack Obama's pick for Attorney General- after Holder mentioned that waterboarding is torture. Said the ex-A.G.:

“I don’t know what Mr. Holder did or didn’t know in making that statement…And I think that one needs to be careful in making a blanket pronouncement like that, if you don’t have all the information, because of the effect it may have, again, on the morale and the dedication of intelligence officials and lawyers throughout the administration.”

Gonzales' term in office from 2005 to 2007 was wrought with controversy; he had overseen an illegal warrantless surveillance program and had been accused of abusing his power in the firing of eight federal attorneys. Yet in the interview Gonzales denied culpability and tended to finger-point at others for his own faults.

Image- MSNBC
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, NPR, washingtonpost.com, CNET News, New York Times, UPI, Huffington Post

Alberto Gonzales, Dick Cheney indicted

A Texas grand jury indicted former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Vice President Dick Cheney for the supposed abuse of prisoners.

According to the indictment filed yesterday, both men engaged in "organized criminal activity" based on the supposed abuse leading to the 2001 death of an inmate. As a Reuters article mentioned:

The grand jury in Willacy County, in the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border, said Cheney is "profiteering from depriving human beings of their liberty," according to a copy of the indictment obtained by Reuters.

The indictment cites a "money trail" of Cheney's ownership in prison-related enterprises including the Vanguard Group, which owns an interest in private prisons in south Texas.

Former attorney general Gonzales used his position to "stop the investigations as to the wrong doings" into assaults in county prisons, the indictment said.

The indictment also laid blame at Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. His lawyer claimed that Willacy County District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra was “settling political scores in his final weeks in office.”

Gonzales has been under fire for aledgedly abusing his power during his time as Attorney General including the accused partisan firing of eight federal attorneys. A recent Justice Department (DOJ) probe blasted Gonzales for “abdicating his repsonsibilty” as top cop; ironically, the DOJ agreed to use taxpayer funds to pay for his private counsel.

Image- WELT ONLINE
Sources- The Latin Americanist, miamiherald.com, Houston Chronicle, Reuters, CNN

Alberto Gonzales still under fire

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) named a special prosecutor to look into alleged misconduct during the time of ex-Attorney Gen. Alberto Gonzales. Gonzales quit from his post over a year ago amid accusations that nine U.S. attorneys were fired due to political motivation.

Special Prosecutor Nora Dannehy’s investigation could lead to criminal charges against Gonzales relating to obstruction of justice.

A DOJ report released yesterday blasted Gonzales:

In a report released Monday, the Justice Department's Inspector General detailed "substantial evidence" that partisan politics played a key role in the 2006 "unprecedented removal" of the nine officials.

It also said Gonzales "abdicated his responsibility to safeguard the integrity and independence of the department," Inspector General Glenn Fine's office said.

The 390-page report said Gonzales "bears primary responsibility for the flawed US attorney removal process."

Image- BBC News

Sources- The Latin Americanist, BBC News, AFP, washingtonpost.com

Daily Headlines: September 3, 2008

* Colombia: “The audience with the pope was a dream for me,” noted former hostage Ingrid Betancourt after an emotional meeting with Pope Benedict on Monday (image).

* U.S.: The Justice Department's inspector general issued a report condemning ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for mishandling classified documents yet stops short of pressing charges against him.

* Chile: Wild weather has hit Chile where over 12,000 people have been displaced due to torrential rains.

* Cuba: Pentagon officials admitted that three detainees were “transferred” from the Guantanamo Bay prison to their home countries.

Image- Times Online

Sources- Monsters & Critics, New York Times, IHT, AFP, Reuters

Mukasey: Accused officials under Gonzales unlikely to be prosecuted

Attorney General Michael Mukasey said that criminal charges will probably not be brought up against several accused officials under his predecessor- Alberto Gonzales. A Justice Department report published last month blasted several aides to the Mexican-American former Attorney General for using politics as a “litmus test” in the hiring of lawyers and immigration judges:

A longtime prosecutor who drew rave reviews from his supervisors was passed over for an important counterterrorism slot because his wife was active in Democratic politics… And a Republican lawyer received high marks at his job interview because he was found to be sufficiently conservative on the core issues of “god, guns + gays.”

I’m not versed in the intricacies of the U.S. judicial system, yet Mukasey’s reasoning made little sense. His argument boiled down to claiming that illegal actions aren’t always crimes:

(…)While there was wrongdoing and "a failure of supervision by senior officials in the department," the conduct was not criminal, Mukasey said in a speech.

"Where there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, we vigorously prosecute," he told the American Bar Association annual meeting in New York. "But not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only violations of the civil service laws."

Mukasey emphasized that “much has changed since the period covered by these reports” though he neglected to give more details. Meanwhile, the inspector general is expected to issue more reports on the politicization of the Justice Department under Gonzales. Thus, Gonzales’ post-AG career may be going from bad to worse.

Image- Fox News

Sources- Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters, AHN, New York Times,

Daily Headlines: July 29, 2008

* U.S.: A Justice Department memo revealed that senior aides under ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales (image) engaged in “misconduct” by using politics to hire less-qualified prosecutors and immigration judges.

* Latin America: According to the latest Worldwide Cost of Living Survey Sao Paulo, Río de Janeiro, Caracas, and Bogota are among the most expensive cities in Latin America.

* Nicaragua: President Daniel Ortega must decide if he’ll accept or reject a U.S. deal to destroy over 600 missiles in exchange for healthcare aid.

* Puerto Rico: Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila proposed a plan to slash taxes as part of a re-election promise to the electorate.

Image- washingtonpost.com

Sources- AFP, Forbes.com, elunivversal.com, Bloomberg, New York Times,

Daily Headlines: April 14, 2008

* Argentina: Despite some initial worry the Olympic torch relay in Buenos Aires was relatively peaceful though not without some protests.

* U.S.: Apparently, Alberto Gonzales is still on the unemployment line.

* Colombia: John McCain may be in favor of a free trade pact with Colombia, but not all congressional Republicans share his perspective.

* Central America: Fewer Central Americans have migrated to the U.S., according to the Border Patrol.

Sources- The Latin Americanist, BBC News, The Hill, The Nation, Associated Press, UPI

Image- Los Angeles Times

Daily Headlines: December 17, 2007

* Brazilian Kaka’s goal and two assists were key in leading AC Milan to a 4-2 win in the World Club Cup final over Argentine side Boca Juniors.

* The American Bar Association backtracked from naming former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales “Lawyer of the Year” and will instead deem him “Newsmaker of the Year”.

* Central American gangs have undergone an “extreme makeover” in their recruiting and operations, according to the Associated Press.

* The first joint space launch between Brazil and Argentina was carried out successfully yesterday.

* Follow-up: Last week’s floods and rains caused by Tropical Storm Olga in the Caribbean has raised the official death count to 38 people.

Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, BBC News, USA TODAY, Wonkette, Associated Press

Image- BBC Sport

Daily Headlines: November 21, 2007

* Follow-up: A painting by Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo which was found in the trash years ago was sold at auction yesterday for over $1 million.

* Shorter work days = more jobs says Venezuela's Labor Ministry.

* A U.S. immigration agent was fired after being accused of raping a Jamaican woman while she was in custody.

* Ex- U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales didn’t get the red carpet treatment during an appearance at the University of Florida.

Sources- Reuters, The Latin Americanist, VivirLatino, Bloomberg, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Image- BBC News

Daily Headlines: October 11, 2007

* Follow-up: Apparently Michael Chertoff was wrong; a federal judge temporarily halted construction of a 1.5 mile part of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border due to “environmental concerns.”

* Ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will not go gentle into that good night; he hired a “high-powered Washington lawyer” to defend him against accusations of political partisanship in the Justice Department.

* During a visit to Haiti, U.S. Congressman John Conyers denounced the “double standard” against Haitian migrants attempting to enter the U.S.

* Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya attempted to improve bilateral relations with Cuba during his visit to the island.

Sources- Associated Press, Guardian UK, USA TODAY, Forbes, Voice of America

Image- Washington Post

Daily Headlines: September 17, 2007

* The manager for Shakira revealed that the Colombian singer had attended a history course at UCLA that ended last week.

* Sources revealed that Michael Mukasey- a retired judge and current advisor to Rudy Giuliani’s presidential bid- will be chosen to replace Alberto Gonzales as U.S. Attorney General.

* Venezuela’s Ambassador to Cuba announced that Hugo Chavez will travel to the island in December.

* La Oroya, Peru was deemed one of the world’s ten most polluted places according to a report from a U.S.-based environmental group.

*Eighteen people died in a bus crash in western Mexico on Saturday.

Sources- BBC News, AHN, PRESS TV, Voice of America, Newsday.com

Image- ABC News

Embattled Attorney General Gonzales quits

Beleaguered U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will officially quit from his post effective September 17^th according to a statement from him this morning. "I have lived the American dream," said the Mexican American Gonzales in his account after news reports earlier this morning hinted at his resignation.

Gonzales’ tenure as Attorney General had been filled with controversy over several issues like the accused partisan firing of eight federal attorneys and his staunch support of a warrentless domestic spying program. Bipartisan opposition to Gonzales had been growing over the past months and that has been reflected in reactions from several prominent Democrats and Republicans today:

“Better late than never."

-Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards

"I'm glad he's stepping down so the department can move forward with its important work."

-Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.

President Bush blamed Gonzales’ critics for creating “months of unfair treatment” leading to his resignation is expected to publicly comment on Gonzales’ resignation at approximately 11:50am. Bush has always been a strong supporter of Gonzales and publicly defended him as recently as August 9^th.

Solicitor General Paul Clement will be acting attorney general though rumor has it that Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff is one of the favorites to succeed Gonzales.

Sources- BBC News, CNN, ABC Online, Wikipedia, RTE, FOX News, The Latin Americanist, Bloomberg, Forbes

Image- CBC

Daily Headlines: July 25, 2007

* Controversy surrounds remarks made by Barack Obama (image) over possibly meeting with leaders of nations like Cuba and Iran should he be president.

* Real estate investors in Spain and Mexico have invested in what will be Latin America’s tallest building to be located in Mexico City.

* The lack of a constant power source to a vital gold mine has shed some light on the serious energy crisis in the Dominican Republic. (Pun not intended).

* Costa Rica – area of increased importance in the illegal drug trade.

* Follow-up: Republican and Democratic senators accused Attorney General Alberto Gonzales of being weak and dishonest during hearings yesterday.

Sources- Yahoo! News, Reuters India, The Latin Americanist, Caribbean Net News, Miami Herald, People’s Daily Online

Image- MSNBC

Daily Headlines: July 24, 2007

* U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales affirmed that he would not quit his post before he faces the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

* Fidel Castro blamed the lure of wealth from U.S. professional boxing as the impetus behind the possible defection of two top Cuban boxers from the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro.

* Thousands of people marched in Oaxaca, Mexico demanding that the state governor resign.

* The Chinese government is investigating how a batch of toothpaste exported to Panama became tainted and killed nearly a hundred people.

* Follow-up: In the aftermath of the TAM Flight 3054 accident, the president of an international air controllers' group urged that Brazil allow foreign experts to oversee the country’s air traffic system.

Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, USA TODAY, Houston Chronicle, SI.com

Image- MSNBC