Comey's Star Rises as Support for Gonzo Falls

James Comey's star turn in Senate testimony against Alberto Gonzales this week prompts speculation that the charismatic former deputy AG should be on the short list to replace him—and might even have legs as a presidential candidate some day. The Wall Street Journal assesses Comey's political future, as support for Gonzales continues to erode.

Comey's independence has afflicted the White House repeatedly: He appointed Patrick Fitzgerald as special prosecutor and questioned the legality of the Bush administration's national security policy, culminating in the dramatic bedside intervention he described Tuesday. "There's always been a rap on him that he wasn't a team player," a Justice insider says. (More James Comey stories.)