A Justice Department investigation offers a blistering critique of the political motivations that led to the firings of a group of U.S. attorneys in late 2006, but stops short of recommending criminal charges against former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales or others in the affair, officials said. The Justice Department's inspector general and its Office of Professional Responsibility have been investigating the firings since last year. Officials with the department refused to discuss the report in advance of its scheduled release today. A lawyer for Gonzales declined to comment.