I know everyone will be talking about the House testimony by Atty Gen Gonzales today, however, there has been something in the back of my mind about his Senate testimony.

I was listening to the Senate testimony on National Public Radio on April 19 when I thought I picked up a contradicting statement by the attorney general. In particular, his testimony regarding the provision in the US Patriot Act regarding the appointment of US Attorneys without Senate Confirmation. However, when I watched the news coverage that night, no comment was made about the contradiction and I forgot about it. I went back and reviewed the transcripts and Atty Gen Gonzales did in fact contradict himself.

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN, D-CALIF.: …Whose idea was it to change the law in an amendment written by your staff, conveyed by your staff, Mr. Moschella, to Senator Specter's staff, Bart Brectholman (ph), on or about November 15th, 2005, to add in conference, without sharing it with any member of this committee, an amendment which effectively gave you the ability to replace U.S. attorneys without Senate confirmation? Whose idea was this?

GONZALES: Senator, I don't recall specifically the genesis of the idea, although, in going back and looking at the documents, it appears that there was some thinking about this as early as 2004. I will say this: I do support -- I did support the change in the law, not in order to avoid Senate involvement, but because I, quite frankly, do not like the idea of the judiciary deciding who serves on my staff, and that's why I supported the law. (emphasis added)

(and later in the day…)

…SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, R-S.C.:: And he always said you never bought into this idea.

GONZALES: Well, sir, he never said that, as I recall, in his testimony. And, again, the first opportunity really where this came up...

GRAHAM: But he always said that you disagreed with this plan.

GONZALES: I believe he said I didn't like it. Look, I know I didn't, I never liked it. I thought, again...

GRAHAM: Again, what didn't you like?

GONZALES: What I didn't like was the fact that I think it's more important to have U.S. attorneys nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate because I believe certainly the appearance of more authority, and it makes them more effective. (emphasis added)

I know this may not be a big deal, but I was curious why no one else mentioned it.

Reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/19/AR2007041902035.html