In Hub visit, Gonzales defends dismissals

US Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, in Boston yesterday, deflected questions about whether he should resign over the firing of eight federal prosecutors, saying he doesn't remember being part of discussions leading to the firings.

"I don't recall being involved in deliberations involving questions of whether or not a US attorney should or should not be asked to resign," he said yesterday, minutes after meeting with area law enforcement officials to announce the launch of a public service announcement to educate teenage girls about online dangers.

"I signed off on recommendations and signed off on the implementation plans, and that's the extent of my involvement," he said. "At the end of the day, I know what I did, and I know that the motivation of the decisions that I made were not based on improper reasons."

Calls for Gonzales to step down have intensified in the past two days, due mainly to Thursday's testimony by D. Kyle Sampson, Gonzales's former chief of staff, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sampson contradicted Gonzales, saying the attorney general participated in the discussions that led to the firing of the prosecutors. Sampson told the panel that the White House had a large role in the firings, not limited involvement as the Justice Department had contended.

"From time to time, Kyle would tell me things that would tell me that this effort was ongoing," Gonzales said yesterday. "I didn't focus on specific concerns about individuals."

When asked why he is not heeding calls for his resignation, Gonzales told reporters: "I believe in truth and accountability, and every step that I've taken is consistent with that principle. I am fighting for the truth, as well."

Gonzales appeared calm as he stood behind a wooden lectern and fielded questions from the media at the Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse in South Boston. The session lasted about five minutes, with Gonzales striding out of the room amid a chorus of questions.

The White House, meanwhile, predicted yesterday that Gonzales will survive the crisis.

"I can tell you that the president has confidence in him," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. President Bush "believes the attorney general can overcome the challenges that are before him," she said.

Earlier in the day, Gonzales sat with about a dozen district attorneys, FBI agents, and postal officials to talk about the dangers the Internet poses to teenage girls. After watching two new public service announcements on a large projection screen, he said, "We are at war against child predators and child pedophiles who prey on children on the Internet."

Gonzales asked several questions, focusing on the behavior of pedophiles. "Are these people curable?" he asked. "They have to know that we're watching them, but yet, they still come."

Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz answered Gonzales, saying: "It's an uncontrollable urge. As to whether or not they're curable, some of the people I've come across, I don't think they are."

Jonathan Saltzman of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Material from the Associated Press was also used.