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Attorney General Alberto Gonzales still has a few friends in Congress and chief among them are Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Cannon.

Gonzales submitted his resignation Friday and announced it publicly Monday, bowing to the intense political pressure of congressional Democrats and more than a dozen high-profile Republicans who demanded his ouster over the possible political motivations in the firing of nine U.S. attorneys.

Congressional investigations have resulted in the resignation of some top Justice officials, including former Gonzales chief of staff Kyle Sampson, a Utah native, but have not led to any criminal charges.

Hatch and Cannon, who are Republican members of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, have repeatedly backed Gonzales and criticized Democrats for pushing to get more Bush administration officials to testify about the firings.

They continued to do so even after Gonzales announced that he would step down on Sept. 17.

"I hope that history will remember Attorney General Gonzales for his honorable service to his country, rather than for the absurd political theater to which some critics have subjected him," Hatch said Monday.

The only negative comment Hatch has made about Gonzales is that he "bungled this attorneys thing."

Cannon has gone after Democrats, saying they continue to push an investigation that has come up with nothing.

"Now is the time to end the political witch hunts," he said Monday. "Congress should begin to concentrate on solving problems instead of chasing its tail."

Hatch and Cannon are in line with President Bush, who called Gonzales' resignation "sad."

"After months of unfair treatment that has created a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position, and I accept his decision," Bush said.

The president has not named Gonzales' successor, but he has asked Solicitor General Paul Clement to step in as acting attorney general.

Administration officials say Gonzales left because the congressional inquiries hampered his ability to lead the Justice Department and some felt his resignation was the only thing that could change that.

"It's clear the situation had become untenable and I think the attorney general made the right decision - both for himself and the president," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.

Utah Rep. Jim Matheson, a Democrat, believes the Justice Department needs a leader who is less political.

"It's troubling that Mr. Gonzales may have allowed political pressure to dictate hiring and firing decisions there," Matheson said. "I hope his replacement will restore confidence in the Justice Department's ability to ensure fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans."