Gonzo to DoJ: STFU, we say what the law is

Here is a golden moment from the recently released Inspector Generals' report on surveillance.

When under-qualified Alberto Gonzales was still White House counsel, he wrote to then-Deputy Attorney General James Comey, who had raised "serious issues" about the legal basis of the surveillance program, and particularly the lack of congressional notification.

Gonzo's 2004 letter to Comey:

"Your misunderstanding appears to have been based on a misunderstanding of the President's expectations regarding the conduct of the Department of Justice. While the President was, and remains, interested in any thoughts the Department of Justice may have on alternative ways to achieve effectively the goals of the activities authorized by the Presidential Authorization of March 11. 2004, the President has addressed definitively for the Excutive Branch in the Presidential Authorization the interpretation of the law."

In plain language: When we said we were interested in the DOJ's opinion about what's legal and what's not, we were only kidding. We've already decided for ourselves.

TPMMuckraker