And the showdown begins

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But wait, there's more!

Counselor to Gonzales abruptly resigns

Story Highlights
• Monica Goodling, counselor to attorney general, submits resignation
• Gonzales aide took part in e-mail exchanges on firing of U.S. attorneys
• Goodling had invoked 5th Amendment to avoid testifying to Congress
• Democrat Schumer says Gonzales' grip on Justice Department slipping


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Justice Department official Monica Goodling resigned her position as counselor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Friday afternoon.

Goodling had invoked the Fifth Amendment, which protects witnesses from self-incrimination, in refusing to testify before Congress regarding the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.

Goodling was among the senior Justice Department officials who participated in meetings and e-mail traffic about the planned dismissals. She went on paid leave as the controversy grew. (Interactive: Key events in the U.S. attorneys firings)

In a brief letter to Gonzales, Goodling gave no reason for her resignation but said it would be effective Saturday.

"I am hereby submitting my resignation to the Office of the Attorney General, effective April 7, 2007. It has been an honor to have served at the Department of Justice for the past five years," Goodling wrote. (Watch why Goodling took the Fifth)

"May God bless you richly as you continue your service to America," she wrote in the letter.

The resignation came abruptly, just as the Justice Department was closing for the Easter weekend.

There was no warning. Officials had said hours earlier that Goodling remained on paid leave of absence from the department.

The Justice Department said it would have no comment on Goodling's decision to resign.

Senate Democrats, who have sharply criticized Gonzales in the wake of the controversy over the firings, were quick to weigh in on Goodling's resignation. "Attorney General Gonzales' hold on the department gets more tenuous each day," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-New York.