In the following months, Gonzales was accused of lying to Congress. Miers was as well. Bush stood by each of them publicly, but both were politically wounded by the scandal. Some defenders of executive power said the firings of the US attorneys were justified under their interpretation of presidential power. But Bush was hesitant to be seen openly defying post-Watergate norms. Democrats, who had taken control of the Senate, threatened intensive investigations of Miers and Gonzales.
