Gonzales deputy resigns from Justice Dept in US

Washington, May 15: US Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, the second-in-command to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and caught in the firestorm over the firing of federal prosecutors, resigned citing family financial reasons.

In a letter to Gonzales, who faces his own calls to resign for the scandal over last year's controversial firings, McNulty said he was stepping down ''on a date to be determined in the late summer.'' ''The financial realities of my college-age children and two decades of public service lead me to a long overdue transition in my career,'' McNulty wrote yesterday.

The resignation came as the Democratic-controlled Congress investigates a controversial Justice Department decision to fire eight of the country's 93 US attorneys last year. A ninth of the federal prosecutors said last week he was pushed out as well.

The administration has insisted the decision was justified, though mishandled. Congressional investigators are attempting to determine if the firings were politically motivated.

McNulty testified on Capitol Hill in February that only the federal prosecutor in Arkansas was let go for political reasons, with the others fired for performance-related issues.

When later information suggested otherwise, Gonzales said both he and his deputy were misinformed by top aides.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer, who has been among those pressing the Senate Judiciary Committee investigation of the firings, used McNulty's resignation to criticize the administration.

''It seems ironic that Paul McNulty who at least tried to level with the committee goes while Gonzales who stonewalled the committee is still in charge. This administration owes us a lot better,'' he said.

Gonzales praised McNulty's record of service.

''Paul is an outstanding public servant and a fine attorney who has been valued here at the Department, by me and so many others, as both a colleague and a friend. He will be missed,'' the attorney general said, without mentioning the recent controversy.

At the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino said, ''The president greatly appreciates all that Paul McNulty has done on behalf of the American people. He's been a tireless public servant and he has a tremendous future in front of him.''

Reuters>