Alberto Gonzales says he's 'profoundly concerned' over choice of new acting U.S. AG

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales saidhe's "profoundly concerned"that the new acting attorney general issomeone who has criticized and publicly expressedskepticism about the Russia investigation.

"From my perspective, it doesn't look good," Gonzales told CBC News in a phone interview.

On Wednesday, Jeff Sessions resignedas the country's chief law enforcement officer. U.S. President Donald Trump announcedby tweet that49-year-old Matthew Whitaker, Sessions's former chief of staff, would take over as acting attorney general until a permanent replacement isfound at a later date.

Trump hadrepeatedly criticized Sessions forrecusing himself from any investigationintopotentialRussian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. That investigation is currently being lead by former FBI director Robert Mueller, who was appointed by Deputy Attorney GeneralRod Rosenstein and has overseen the probe'swork.

When asked whether Whitaker would now assume control over the Muellerinvestigation, U.S. Justice Department spokespersonSarahFloressaid Whitaker would be "in charge of all matters"under the purview of the department.

Whitaker, who had a stint as a legalcommentator for CNN,has been vocal in hiscriticism ofMueller'sinvestigation and its scope. Heonce opined about a situation in which Trump could fire Sessions and then appoint an acting attorney general who could stifle the funding of Mueller's probe.

"I just don't understand it because why invite this kind of criticism or scrutiny which you knew it was going to come because of the comments he's made earlier," said Gonzales. "And [to] put him in this position at Justice to me is somewhat confounding."

Gonzales, who was the attorney general in George W. Bush's administration from 2005 to 2007,said he doesn't know Whitaker, his qualifications or motivations, but there's a lot that calls into question his appointment.

"I'm profoundly concerned about it," he said.

Gonzales said ifa decision is made to curtail or end the Muellerprobe, that shouldn't be made by theacting attorney general, but someone within the normal lines of thechain of authority, either the deputy attorney general or the solicitor general.

He alsosaid the line of succession within the Justice Department does not include the chief of staff and the fact that someone in that positionwould be made acting attorney general is"very odd."

"I think if you were to ask anyone withDOJ experience they would say 'Huh?Why choose this person?'

"And to outsiders, it looks like he [Trump] chose this person because this person has committed to end this investigation, this person is loyal to Donald Trump."

Gonzales resigned as attorney general undera cloud of controversy and amid accusations that the Justice Department has been used for political purposes. He was accused of dismissing several U.S. attorneys in 2006 for politically partisan purposes. Gonzales maintained the dismissals were rooted in lacklustre performance records.

As attorney general, and earlier as White House counsel, he faced criticism for drafting controversial rules for military war tribunals, seeking to limit the legal rights of detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hehadalsopressed to reauthorize a controversial secret domestic spying program over the Justice Department's protests.

With files from The Associated Press