Fund set up for Gonzales’ legal bills

Former Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales’ supporters have created a trust fund to help pay for his legal expenses, which are mounting in the face of a Justice Department investigation into whether Gonzales committed perjury or improperly tampered with a congressional witness.

David Leitch, a Gonzales friend and general counsel at Ford Motor Co., sent out an e-mail solicitation last month. A contribution form for donations to the fund suggests amounts from $500 to $5,000.

The investigation of Gonzales is scheduled for completion in several months, sources said. The inspector general is looking at whether Gonzales misled Congress in sworn testimony and improperly sought to influence testimony of an aide, Monica M. Goodling, about last year’s firings of nine U.S. attorneys.