WASHINGTON, March 18 (UPI) -- A top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee says Alberto Gonzales probably will not survive as U.S. attorney general, and may step down within a week.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., spoke on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. Asked by host Tim Russert if Gonzales will remain attorney general, Schumer said it was "unlikely."
"I think it's highly unlikely he survives. I wouldn't be surprised if a week from now he is no longer attorney general," Schumer said. Gonzales is due to return to the committee to testify on the firing of eight U.S. attorneys. Democrats allege the abrupt firings were for political reasons.
"The Justice Department has actually agreed to be cooperative, and this week the staff will take depositions of five Justice Department officials," Schumer said. "Next week we will have them come to hearings. They've also given us all the documents" related to the firings.
"We have to get the same information from the White House, Schumer said, adding that the committee staff has met with presidential counsel Fred Fielding to get testimony from presidential adviser Karl Rover, former White House counsel Harriet Miers and others.
Fielding is scheduled to announce Tuesday whether the White House will reject the committee's invitation, an action Democrats say will result in subpoenas.
"I would offer a fervent plea to the White House to give us this information," Schumer said. "It's going to come out, anyway. There are too many people in the Justice Department who want the information to come out because they were so upset."
