Oregon Public Broadcasting

Fired U.S. Attorney John McKay says Attorney General Gonzales's departure is like a dark cloud lifting over the Justice Department.

McKay served as U.S. attorney for Western Washington.  Gonzales fired him, and eight other U.S. attorneys late last year.

John McKay: "I think I'm relieved like a lot of folks who still work at the Department of Justice not just in Seattle and Washington State but around the country.  I think he's been a disappointment and something of an embarassment of late and people need to return to the important work of investigating and prosecuting international drug crime and terrorism and keeping us safe."

McKay says it's obvious Gonzales has been less than forthcoming in his answers to Congressional questioning.

Critics of Gonzales say John McKay was fired because he wasn't loyal to the Bush Administration. McKay is now an adjunct professor at Seatte University School of Law.