The U.S. Justice Department is probing whether departing Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales gave false or misleading testimony to Congress on a broad range of issues, the department's top auditor said Thursday.
Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine disclosed the investigation in a letter sent to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) , head of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Issues being investigated include the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program and the removal of nine U.S. attorneys last year, Fine said.
The move shows that internal investigations that began with the prosecutor firings have widened substantially to include a focus on Gonzales's actions and statements.
Gonzales announced Monday that he was quitting the Justice Department after seven months of sustained conflict with Congress over the prosecutor dismissals and other issues.
Leahy said in a statement that he was "pleased" investigators were examining Gonzales's testimony, which he said had "eroded the public's trust and undermined morale" at Justice.
The senator and other top Democrats have vowed to continue aggressive investigations of Gonzales's tenure at Justice, including his handling of the prosecutor firings, hiring practices and other issues.
Source: Xinhua
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