"This was long overdue,
but thank God it has come. The Department of Justice was virtually non-functioning under the attorney general. It's a wonder he stayed on so long," Schumer, D-N.Y., told FOX News. Schumer said the top problem for Democrats regarding the attorney general is that he "did not put the rule of law first."
"The No. 2 problem is that he didn't competently" run the department, Schumer said.
"I'm glad he's stepping down so the department can move forward with its important work," Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told FOX News.
Democratic strategist Bob Beckel agreed that the decision was "well overdue."
"The question is, why did he take this long. This bleed has been going on for more than a year," Beckel told FOX News, adding that the nominee to replace Gonzales will face a "contentious" hearing.
Beckel predicted that Bush would name a Democrat just to get a nominee through the Democratic-led Senate.
"It would have to be a Democrat who is not a liberal Democrat," said Weekly Standard editor and FOX News contributor Fred Barnes, who doubted the president would pursue that course.