Senate Democrats to Pursue Gonzales No-Confidence Vote in June

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Senate Democrats announced Thursday they would pursue a vote of no-confidence against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales shortly after returning from the Memorial Day recess, once the Senate completes its final vote on the immigration package.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the vote would probably take place the week of June 11.

Schumer and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) Introduced the nonbinding resolution that would be a political embarrassment to the White House. They did so on the heels of damaging testimony by former Justice official Monica Goodling, in which she stated Gonzales had made her “uncomfortable” by discussing with her his recollection of the process surrounding the ouster of nine U.S. attorneys in 2006.

The resolution had 25 co-sponsors on Thursday, all Democrats. They include Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), and presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), Barack Obama (Ill.) and Chris Dodd (Conn.).

Schumer said he was confident the resolution would garner 60 votes.

There’s a “very good chance we’ll get the 60 votes,” he said. “I don’t know of a single Democrat who wouldn’t vote for it.”

Six Republican Senators have demanded Gonzales’ resignation. But it is unclear if they would favor a no-confidence motion.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested Republicans would not allow such a politically charged vote to take place without inciting some procedural mischief of their own.

— Rachel Van Dongen