U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft

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tom ridge , john ashcroft in 2004 in washington, d.c.


in december 2000, following senatorial defeat, ashcroft chosen position of u.s. attorney general president-elect george w. bush. confirmed senate vote of 58 42, democratic senators voting against him, citing prior opposition using forced busing achieve desegregation, , opposition ashcroft s pro-life views.


in may, 2001, fbi revealed had misplaced thousands of documents related investigation of oklahoma city bombing. ashcroft granted 30-day stay of execution timothy mcveigh, man convicted , sentenced death bombing.


after september 11, 2001 attacks in united states, ashcroft key administration supporter of passage of usa patriot act. 1 of provisions, section 215, allows federal bureau of investigation (fbi) apply order foreign intelligence surveillance court require production of tangible thing investigation. provision criticized citizen , professional groups concerned violations of privacy. ashcroft referred american library association s opposition section 215 hysteria in 2 separate speeches given in september 2003. while attorney general, ashcroft consistently denied fbi or other law enforcement agency had used patriot act obtain library circulation records or of retail sales. according sworn testimony of 2 fbi agents interviewed 9/11 commission, ashcroft ignored warnings of imminent al-qaida attack.


in 2002, under ashcroft, curtains installed blocking spirit of justice statue in robert f. kennedy department of justice building, of woman wearing toga-like dress 1 breast revealed, view during speeches. curtains first used on rental basis during administration of dick thornburgh. justice officials long insisted curtains put improve room s use television backdrop , ashcroft had nothing it. ashcroft s successor, alberto gonzales, removed curtains in june 2005.


in march 2004, justice department under ashcroft ruled stellar wind domestic intelligence program illegal. day after ruling, ashcroft became critically ill acute pancreatitis. president bush sent white house counsel alberto gonzales , chief of staff andrew card jr. ashcroft s hospital bed. wanted him sign document reversing justice department s ruling. semi-conscious ashcroft refused sign; acting attorney general james comey , jack goldsmith, head of office of legal counsel doj, there him up.


following accounts of abu ghraib torture , prisoner abuse scandal in iraq, 1 of torture memos leaked press in june 2004. jack goldsmith, head of office of legal counsel, had withdrawn yoo memos , advised agencies not rely on them. after goldsmith forced resign because of objections, attorney general ashcroft issued 1 paragraph opinion re-authorizing use of torture.


on november 9, 2004, following george w. bush s re-election, ashcroft announced resignation, took effect on february 3, 2005, after senate confirmed white house counsel alberto gonzales next attorney general. ashcroft said in hand-written resignation letter, dated november 2, objective of securing safety of americans crime , terror has been achieved.








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