Alberto Gonzales Discusses New Career, Scandal

Two weeks ago, we first reported that Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales would be joining the faculty at Texas Tech, but his position hasn't been met with full optimism.

KAMC 28's Julie Musgrave sat down with gonzales one-on-one, to talk about his life at the center of national controversy.

Former US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: "As far as I'm concerned, those are all history now. I'm done with those reports."

Just two years after resigning from his post as US Attorney General amid reports of perjury and scandal, Alberto Gonzales is here in Lubbock, joining the faculty at Texas Tech. Perhaps, his way of moving on from Washington politics.

Gonzales: "I like to teach. I like interacting with students. And I just felt that this would be something good to do. A nice transition for me."

Gonzales will be teaching political science and helping with diversity recruitment. But the fact that Tech recruited Gonzales in the first place is at the center of nationwide controversy. News outlets, blogs, political co-horts, all saying Gonzales' link to scandals while in office can't be good for the University.

Gonzales: "I have to say I respectfully disagree. Most professors have never been in the White House, the situation room, over the FBI command center. I think I bring something to the table that is very, very unique."

It's those experiences that Gonzales says he hopes to share in the classroom, acting as mentor. That means allowing discussion of both the good, and the bad... even if it means not necessarily leaving politics completely behind.

Gonzales: "I'll be very happy to have a candid discussion about what happened. I think it's very important for both sides of an issue to be explored and examined. And that's what education, what a college environment is all about. I came to Lubbock simply because of the commitment I saw here with the students, and to the issue of minority retention, and increasing minority representation. Not politics. I'm done with politics. (Julie: But you're teaching political science?) Yeah, true.