In a written statement Wednesday, Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska said the "honesty and capability" of the attorney general must be unquestioned, and that Gonzales "can no longer meet this standard." (Full story)
Minnesota's Norm Coleman became the sixth Republican to call for Gonzales to go. His spokesman, Leroy Coleman, told CNN the senator was angered by revelations that the former U.S. attorney in Minneapolis had been on a Justice Department list for dismissal as part of a shakeup that has stirred up a firestorm on Capitol Hill.
Three other GOP senators have called for Gonzales to resign: Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, John McCain of Arizona and John Sununu of New Hampshire. McCain is running for president; Hagel is considering a run.
Another Republican, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, suggested to The Associated Press on Wednesday that Gonzales should consider stepping down: "When you have to spend more time up here on Capitol Hill instead of running the Justice Department, maybe you ought to think about it."
