Heller urges resignation of Gonzales

WASHINGTON -- Republican Rep. Dean Heller on Thursday joined other Nevada lawmakers who are calling for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"I think he's become a distraction," Heller said. "I think he's a distraction to the Department of Justice."

Heller said he agreed with Rep. Jon Porter, also R-Nev., who said last week that the American people have lost confidence in the attorney general and his management of the Department of Justice after the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys.

"I don't think (it's) my job, as a congressman, to tell the (Bush) administration what to do with their nominees, and frankly I think it's much more of a Senate issue than it is a congressional issue," Heller said.

"But I do think it's become a distraction, and I think it would be in his (Gonzales') best interest to step down," he said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., is the only member of Nevada's congressional delegation who has not called for Gonzales' resignation.

In March, Ensign said Gonzales "completely mishandled" the firing of U.S. attorney Daniel Bogden of Nevada and called upon the attorney general and President Bush to restore Bogden's reputation.

But Ensign still isn't calling for Gonzales' resignation, according to Ensign spokesman Tory Mazzola.

"Senator Ensign is working to fix the problem," Mazzola said.

Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Shelley Berkley, both D-Nev., called for Gonzales' resignation last month.