Gonzales: I Haven't Spoken to Bush

Two years after leaving the Justice Department in disgrace, Alberto Gonzales is still trying to get back on his feet. In an interview with New York Times Magazine's grand inquisitor Deborah Solomon, the former AG says he's living in an apartment in Lubbock, Texas, where he'll begin a teaching gig this month that will give students "a behind-the-scenes look at how the White House is really organized." Solomon questions him about the 70 Texas Tech professors protesting his "ethical failings," to which Gonzales responds: "It's an ongoing investigation. I cannot comment."

Gonzales says he hasn't had a job offer from any law firm since leaving DC, which he attributes to "a tough economic climate" and an "undeserved" reputation for criminal wrongdoing. He also admits to "substantial" legal bills. Solomon asks whether he's hit Bush or Cheney up for money, but apparently Gonzales hasn't even spoken to the former president: "He has his life to live. I’ve got challenges and my life to live as well." (More Alberto Gonzales stories.)