Colin Powell Resigns

Aides: Ashcroft likely to leave post
Thursday, November 4, 2004 Posted: 2:25 PM EST (1925 GMT)

Aides are saying Attorney General John Ashcroft may be planning to resign.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft is likely to leave his post before the start of President Bush's second term, senior aides said Thursday.
Ashcroft, 62, is described as exhausted from leading the Justice Department in fighting the domestic war on terrorism since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Stress was a factor in Ashcroft's health problems earlier this year that resulted in removal of his gall bladder. (Ashcroft in intensive care)
Ashcroft is expected to resign before Bush's January 20 inauguration, said aides who spoke only on condition of anonymity. They said there is a small chance he would stay on, at least for a short time, if Bush asked him.
The attorney general has not officially informed his staff of his future plans, spokesman Mark Corallo said.
At a news conference, Bush said he hasn't made any decisions about his Cabinet.
Ashcroft, a former two-term governor and senator from Missouri, has long been a favorite among Bush's base of religious conservatives. He also is a lightning rod for Democrats and other critics on issues ranging from the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, which expanded rules for eavesdropping, to abortion rights and gun control. (Ashcroft details uses of Patriot Act)
Names that have been floated in recent weeks as a possible replacement include Ashcroft's former deputy, Larry Thompson, who would become the first black attorney general.
Others include Marc Racicot, who was Bush's campaign manager, and White House general counsel Alberto Gonzalez, who would give Bush a notable Hispanic appointment.