After months of calls for his departure, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has finally stepped down. Gonzales made the announcement Monday but didn’t give a reason for his resignation.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales “Let me say that it’s been one of my greatest privileges to lead the Department of Justice. I have great admiration and respect for the men and women who work here. I have made a point as attorney general to personally meet as many of them as possible, and today I want to again thank them for their service to our nation. It is through their continued work that our country and our communities remain safe, that the rights and civil liberties of our citizens are protected, and the hopes and dreams of all of our children are secured.”

The resignation comes just two weeks after the departure of one of Gonzales’ chief White House backers, Karl Rove. Gonzales had been at the center of numerous congressional investigations including the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, the overall politicization of the Justice Dept. and the Bush administration’s secret warrantless domestic surveillance operation. Besides serving as attorney general, Gonzales was one of Bush’s closest allies in Washington. Bush has been his only boss for the past 13 years. Speaking from Waco, Texas, President Bush defended the outgoing Gonzales and assailed his critics.

President Bush: “After months of unfair treatment, that has created harmful — a harmful distraction at the Justice Department, Judge Gonzales decided to resign his position, and I accept his decision. It’s sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeding from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons.”

President Bush has named Solicitor General Paul Clement interim U.S. attorney general. Clement has worked for former Attorney General John Ashcroft and Justice Antonin Scalia and is a former member of the Federalist Society. As the announcement was made, protesters gathered outside the Justice Department in Washington, D.C., to applaud Gonzales’ departure.

Protester: “Today you are resigning, Mr. Alberto Gonzales. You should go back to Texas today and get some mental help and read the Constitution, sir.”