WASHINGTON — Paul J. McNulty, a career Republican operative who rose to the No. 2 spot at the Department of Justice, announced his resignation Monday in the midst of the widening scandal over the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.
His exit marks the fourth resignation since the matter became public this year. It is all the more dramatic because of his high rank -- deputy attorney general -- in the Bush administration.
McNulty has admitted misleading Congress about the reasons for the dismissals. Though he maintained he was out of the loop about the terminations, documents showed he attended a crucial meeting with Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales and others to review a final list of prosecutors to be fired.
Gonzales, in a written statement Monday evening on McNulty's resignation, made no mention of the firings. He said Justice would be "losing a dynamic and thoughtful leader" when McNulty formally stepped down this summer. He said McNulty had been instrumental in efforts against corporate fraud and had made "significant contributions to establishing the rule of law in Iraq."
According to Justice officials, McNulty announced his resignation earlier in the day in San Antonio, where he was meeting with federal prosecutors.
He did not release a public statement about his departure, nor did he say whether it was related to the controversy over the fired prosecutors.
His three-paragraph resignation letter to Gonzales said he was stepping down for personal reasons.
"The financial realities of college-age children and two decades of public service lead me to a long overdue transition in my career," he wrote.
McNulty's departure invigorated Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill calling for Gonzales to leave as well.
"It seems ironic that Paul McNulty -- who at least tried to level with the committee -- goes, while Gonzales, who stonewalled the committee, is still in charge," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of those pressing for a purge at Justice. "This administration owes us a lot better."
House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois said McNulty's resignation would not make the scandal disappear. Democrats still want to know who drew up the list of prosecutors to be fired and how much political direction came from the White House, he said.
"Democrats will continue our aggressive investigation into this serious matter," Emanuel said. "Resignations are no substitute for the truth."
