JURIST - Paper Chase: Senate Judiciary Democrats seeking no-confidence vote on Gonzales

[JURIST] Two Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee said Thursday that they plan to seek a vote of no-confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [JURIST news archive]. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that only President Bush remains confident in Gonzales, under fire for the allegedly political firings of nine federal prosecutors [JURIST news archive]. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Schumer both believe Gonzales is too weak to remain in his position, and are the architects of the planned vote. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are also believed to support the resolution. Schumer told reporters that Reid will attempt to bring the as-yet unfinished resolution to a vote next week.

Schumer believes that the resolution will have enough support to defeat a filibuster. So far five Republican Senators have been vocal in their displeasure with Gonzales. Earlier Thursday Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, predicted that Gonzales would be resigning soon [JURIST report] as a result of the scandal. He told AP that he would have to see the resolution before deciding if he would support it. On Wednesday Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NB) called for Gonzales to step down [JURIST report]. AP has more.

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