Gonzales Preps for Showdown With Senate

LARA JAKES JORDAN | AP | April 2, 2007 09:23 PM EST

WASHINGTON — His job on the line, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales shelved plans for a family vacation and began prepping Monday for a showdown with senators over the firings of federal prosecutors.

An appearance next week in front of a Senate panel that oversees Justice Department spending is shaping up as a trial run for Gonzales' scheduled April 17 testimony to a separate Senate committee investigating the eight dismissals.

The White House said Monday that Gonzales' testimony cannot come too fast for the besieged attorney general to explain his previous statements about the firings, which Democrats contend were politically motivated.

"Look, the attorney general thinks it's in everyone's best interest _ and we agree with him _ that he be able to get up and talk to Congress sooner than later," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

"I think the American people would like to see us resolve this, so that we can move on and work on other things. So we'd like to see the hearing moved up to next week," Perino said.

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