Gonzales reassures Senate he’s pledged to the ‘rule of law’

WASHINGTON – Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales is pledging a firm commitment to the “rule of law” and U.S. treaty obligations as he prepares for today’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But his opening statement for the hearing does not directly explain his role in shaping White House policy that critics say relaxed safeguards against prisoner interrogation and torture.

“As we have debated these questions, the president has made clear that he is prepared to protect and defend the United States and its citizens, and will do so vigorously, but always in a manner consistent with our nation’s values and applicable law, including our treaty obligations,” Gonzales said in his written remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“I pledge that, if I am confirmed as attorney general, I will abide by those commitments.”

A copy of Gonzales’ statement was made available to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Wednesday as Gonzales’ critics intensified their opposition to his nomination, primarily because of controversial positions by Gonzales during his four years as White House counsel.

Much of the opposition is focused on memos that called for relaxing prisoner protections under the Geneva Convention and asserted a president’s power to set aside laws and to allow torture.

Though Gonzales disavowed the so-called torture memo, which the Justice Department later rejected, a coalition of civil rights groups, retired military officials and religious leaders said Gonzales’ actions set the stage for the prison abuse scandal in Abu Ghraib and mistreatment of captives at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison camp.

While some of Gonzales’ critics called on President Bush to withdraw the nomination, Republicans remained confident that he would eventually win easy confirmation in the GOP-controlled Senate and denounced the attacks as “political theater” fanned by Democrats still embittered by their loss in the November presidential race.

Gonzales also drew strong support from Hispanic groups, including a high-profile endorsement from former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, a staunch Democrat who served as Housing and Urban Development secretary for President Clinton.

In an op-ed piece in Wednesday’s “Wall Street Journal,” Cisneros said Gonzales’ confirmation as attorney general “will be good for America” and instill an “immense sense of pride” among the nation’s 40 million Hispanics.

Gonzales’ supporters portray the nominee as an embodiment of the American dream who grew up in an impoverished Houston neighborhood before becoming a successful corporate attorney and a close adviser to the president. He was a member of Bush’s inner circle in the Texas governor’s office and joined Bush in the White House at the outset of his presidential administration.

The Republican president nominated Gonzales to replace outgoing Attorney General John Ashcroft in early November as he began reorganizing his administration after winning re-election.

Hector Flores of Dallas, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said his organization considers Gonzales’ nomination one of its top priorities. “It’s breaking ground for Mexican Americans and Latinos,” Flores said in a telephone interview.

The hearing is expected to last all day and will likely continue into Friday. No vote is expected until later this month, according to committee staff members.