Poor, poor Alberto Gonzales. Looks like our illustrious ex-AG is having trouble finding work.
Alberto R. Gonzales, like many others recently unemployed, has discovered how difficult it can be to find a new job. Mr. Gonzales, the former attorney general, who was forced to resign last year, has been unable to interest law firms in adding his name to their roster, Washington lawyers and his associates said in recent interviews.
He has, through friends, put out inquiries, they said, and has not found any takers. What makes Mr. Gonzales’s case extraordinary is that former attorneys general, the government’s chief lawyer, are typically highly sought.
Of course, they also don't typically resign in disgrace amid accusations of perjury, they aren't typically under investigation by the Justice Department's Inspector General, and their friends don't typically set up a legal defense fund for them before they've been formally charged with anything. But hey, what do I know? I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why nobody wants to hire Abu G.
The greatest impediment to Mr. Gonzales’s being offered the kind of high-salary job being snagged these days by lesser Justice Department officials, many lawyers agree, is his performance during his last few months in office. In that period, he was openly criticized by lawmakers for being untruthful in his sworn testimony. His conduct is being investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Justice Department, which could recommend actions from exonerating him to recommending criminal charges. Friends set up a fund to help pay his legal bills.
Oh nevermind, I guess it is that whole perjury investigation thing. Fortunately, my school and others have been keeping him out of the unemployment line:
While he has not taken any full-time job, friends said he was probably receiving as much income from speaking engagements as he did as attorney general with its annual salary of more than $191,000. Places like Washington University in St. Louis, Ohio State University and the University of Florida have paid him about $30,000 plus expenses for appearances, and the business groups pay a bit more, said sources at the schools and elsewhere who are familiar with the arrangements. Pomona College debated inviting him and decided he was not worth the money, the college newspaper reported.
Even though his speech "was not profound," as our student government president wrote, Gonzales will never have to worry about money. I wish I could say the same for the hard-working Americans who lost their homes to subprime mortgage foreclosures or the increasing number of unemployed Americans who can't get paid to run their mouths.
(Cross-posted at CrazyDrumGuy)