Embattled US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' claim that he was not involved in discussions about the firing of federal prosecutors is inaccurate, according to his former chief of staff.
Kyle Sampson told Congress today that he shared information with key Justice Department colleagues about the dismissals of eight of the nation's 93 US attorneys last year, despite complaints to the contrary by Mr Gonzales.
"I never sought to conceal or withhold any material fact on this matter from anyone," Mr Sampson, who helped orchestrate the dismissals, told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
"Others in the [Justice] Department knew what I knew about the origins and timing of this enterprise," said Mr Sampson, who Mr Gonzales has largely blamed for the furore over the firings.
But Mr Sampson conceded he failed to help organise a more effective department response to questions from Congress earlier this year.
The dismissals have triggered a storm as Democrats - and some Republicans - claim that the sackings were politically motivated, leading to calls for Mr Gonzales to resign.
The Bush administration contends the sackings were justified and based largely on performance or policy difference. But recently disclosed documents also show loyalty to the administration was a factor.
"For my part in allowing what should have been a routine process of assuring the Congress that nothing untoward occurred to become an ugly, undignified spectacle, I want to apologise," said Mr Sampson, who resigned his position this month.
At a March 13th news conference about the firings, Mr Gonzales said: "The mistake that occurred here was that information that he [Mr Sampson] had, was not shared with individuals within the department who were then going to be providing testimony and information to the Congress."
Mr Gonzales also had said he was not involved in any discussions about the firings. But later backtracked after the recent disclosure of an internal document showing otherwise.
He subsequently claimed he was not involved in the deliberations over which prosecutors should go. But Mr Sampson testified that he "was aware of this process from the beginning in early 2005 .... Ultimately he approved both the list and the notion of going forward and asking for these resignations."