Bush blocks his own Justice Department

According to the AP, Attorney General Gonzales testified today that Bush personally blocked the Justice Department from investigating the legality of the NSA eavesdropping program:

The department's Office of Professional Responsibility announced earlier this year it could not pursue an investigation into the role of Justice lawyers in crafting the program, under which the National Security Agency intercepts some telephone calls and e-mail without court approval.

At the time, the office said it could not obtain security clearance to examine the classified program.

Under sharp questioning from Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Arlen Specter, Gonzales said that Bush would not grant the access needed to allow the probe to move forward.

Protecting a vital national security interest, or covering his own ass Nixon-style? You be the judge.