Former Gonzales Aide Denies Major Role in Attorney Firings

MARGARET WARNER:

The mountain of TV and still cameras had to be moved aside this morning so House Judiciary Committee members could question 33-year-old Monica Goodling, a central figure in the firestorm surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, stemming from the dismissals of eight U.S. attorneys last year.

REP. LAMAR DAVIS (R), Texas: I know this is not an easy process for you to go through, and I know you've never had to endure anything like this hearing before.

MARGARET WARNER:

Goodling, who resigned from the Justice Department last month, initially refused to testify, but was forced to appear after she was granted immunity from prosecution.

REP. JOHN CONYERS:

You are obligated to answer each question completely and truthfully.

MARGARET WARNER:

Committee members were most interested in Goodling's responsibilities while in the office overseeing the nation's 93 U.S. attorneys and her more recent service as the department's White House liaison.

MONICA GOODLING, Former Justice Department Official:

I did not hold the keys to the kingdom, as some have suggested.

MARGARET WARNER:

In her first public remarks, Goodling rejected press reports that she played a major role in the firings. Instead, she told Committee Chairman John Conyers that Gonzales' former chief of staff, Kyle Sampson, came up with the list of who should go.

REP. JOHN CONYERS:

So from your point of view, your answer to the question would be Kyle Sampson?

MONICA GOODLING:

Mr. Sampson compiled the list. I know that he did speak to the deputy attorney general about it, and I know that he presented it to the attorney general.

REP. JOHN CONYERS:

And the attorney general being Mr. Alberto Gonzales?

MONICA GOODLING:

Yes, sir.

MARGARET WARNER:

Goodling described what she called an uncomfortable final meeting with the attorney general as she left the Justice Department, when he gave her his recollection of how the firing process unfolded.

MONICA GOODLING:

He laid out a little bit of it, and then he asked me if he thought, if I had any reaction to his iteration. And I remember thinking at that point that this was something that we were all going to have to talk about, and I didn't know that it was — I just — I didn't know that it was maybe appropriate for us to talk about that at that point, and so I just didn't. As far as I can remember, I just didn't respond.