Administration in-fighting hits new level as Alberto Gonzales threatens to quit over evidence dispute.

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, the F.B.I. director, Robert S. Mueller III, and senior officials and career prosecutors at the Justice Department told associates this week that they were prepared to quit if the White House directed them to relinquish evidence seized in a bitterly disputed search of a House member's office, government officials said Friday.

Mr. Gonzales was joined in raising the possibility of resignation by the deputy attorney general, Paul J. McNulty, the officials said. Mr. Gonzales and Mr. McNulty told associates that they had an obligation to protect evidence in a criminal case and would be unwilling to carry out any White House order to return the material to Congress.

The potential showdown was averted Thursday when President Bush ordered the evidence to be sealed for 45 days to give Congress and the Justice Department a chance to work out a deal.

The evidence was seized by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents last Saturday night in a search of the office of Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana. The search set off an uproar of protest by House leaders in both parties, who said the intrusion by an executive branch agency into a Congressional office violated the Constitution's separation of powers doctrine. They demanded that the Justice Department return the evidence.

Now it seems that Bush's constant bumbling has stepped on the toes of his own people. The reasons for his interference are really confusing to me as well.

My take is that the FBI had every right to search Rep. Jefferson's Congressional office in this investigation. There is a lot of evidence that this guy is dirty and he should not be shielded from prosecution just becasue he is a Congressman.

And while the FBI is there maybe they should check out Speaker Dennis Hastert's office as well. He also seems to have something to hide.