Gonazlez Resigns

By Rick Moran

Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez has resigned as reported by several media outlets including the New York Times:

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzalz, whose tenure has been marred by controversy and accusations of perjury before Congress, has resigned. A senior administration official said he would announce the decision later this morning in Washington.

Mr. Gonzales, who had rebuffed calls for his resignation, submitted his to President Bush by telephone on Friday, the official said. His decision was not immediately announced, the official added, until after the president invited him and his wife to lunch at his ranch near here.

Mr. Bush has not yet chosen a replacement but will not leave the position open long, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the resignation had not yet been made public.

Rumors had been flying for most of the weekend that Gonzalez was gone. And take it for what it's worth, but those same rumors had Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff moving over to take the reins at Justice:

The buzz among top Bushies is that beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales finally plans to depart and will be replaced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Why Chertoff? Officials say he's got fans on Capitol Hill, is untouched by the Justice prosecutor scandal, and has more experience than Gonzales did, having served as a federal judge and assistant attorney general.

Jonathon Adler of The Corner at NRO believes Chertoff would be a good choice:

If the Administration could avoid a protracted confirmation bloodletting — a very big if — I think that replacing Alberto Gonzales with Michael Chertoff would be a very positive step. Gonzales' departure is long overdue. Indeed, the only remotely defensible reason for his remaining as AG has been that Senate Democrats would conduct show trials during his successor's confirmation hearings. While the Department of Homeland Security has hardly been without problems of its own, there are no questions about Chertoff's intellect and integrity.

Whoever is chosen will be in for a first class grilling by Senate Democrats. Watch as Senators Schumer, Leahy et. al. on the Judiciary Committee throw up every alleged sin committed by this Administration since day one, painting everyting in the absolute worst possible light.