Alberto Gonzales refused to answer Sen. Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) question of whether President Bush had dispatched then-White House chief of staff Alberto Gonzales and chief of staff Andrew Card to make the infamous visit to John Ashcroft’s hotel room in March, 2004.
“Did the president ask you to go?” Schumer asked. “We were there on behalf of the President of the United States,” was Gonzales’ repeated answer. That’s “the answer that I can give you,” Gonzales said. When Schumer inquired why, Gonzales implied that it might be covered by executive privilege since it related “to activities that existed when I was in the White House.”
SCHUMER: OK. Let me ask you this. Who sent you to the hospital?
GONZALES: Senator, what I can say is we’d had a very important meeting at the White House over one of the most…
SCHUMER: I didn’t ask that. I didn’t ask…
GONZALES: Well…
SCHUMER: You’ve discussed the meeting…
GONZALES: I’m answering your question, Senator…
SCHUMER: Who sent you?GONZALES: … if I could.
SCHUMER: Did anyone tell you to go?
GONZALES: It was one of the most important programs for the United States. It was important — had been authorized by the president.
I’ll just say that the chief of staff to the president of the United States and the counsel to the president of the United States went to the hospital on behalf of the president of the United States.SCHUMER: Did the president ask you to go?
GONZALES: We were there on behalf of the president of the United States.
SCHUMER: I didn’t ask you that.
GONZALES: I understand…
SCHUMER: Did the president ask you to go?
GONZALES: Senator, we were there on behalf of the president of the United States.
SCHUMER: Why can’t you answer that question?
GONZALES: That’s the answer that I can give you, Senator.
SCHUMER: Well, can you explain to me why you can’t answer it directly?
GONZALES: Senator, again, we were there on an important program for this president, on behalf of the president of the United States.
SCHUMER: Did you talk to the president about it beforehand?
GONZALES: Senator, obviously, there were a lot of discussions that happened during that period of time. This involved one of the president’s premier programs…
SCHUMER: I understand. But, sir, you’re before this committee. You are before this committee. You’re supposed to answer questions. You’ve not claimed any privilege. I don’t think there is any here. And I asked you a question. And you refuse to answer it.
GONZALES: Senator, if…SCHUMER: Why?
GONZALES: I’ll go back — if I can answer the question, I will answer the question…
SCHUMER: I know. But could you tell me why you can’t answer this question?
GONZALES: Senator, because, again, this relates to activities that existed when I was in the White House. And because of that, with respect to your specific questions, I will go back and see whether or not I can answer the question.
SCHUMER: Did the vice president send you?
GONZALES: Senator, we were there on behalf of the president.
SCHUMER: Did you talk to the vice president about it?
GONZALES: We were there on behalf of the president.
SCHUMER: You will not answer that question as well. Is that correct?
GONZALES: We were there on behalf of — if I can — I’d be happy to take back your question. If we can respond to it, we will.
