Careful, no Beaner jokes.

WASHINGTON — Sources close to the White House said Wednesday that President George W. Bush wants Alberto Gonzales to take Attorney General John Ashcroft’s place.

The White House counsel is one of the most prominent Hispanics in the administration.

Ashcroft announced his resignation Tuesday.

Gonzales has long been eyed as a leading candidate to fill a Supreme Court vacancy.

His career has been linked to Bush for at least a decade. He served as general counsel when Bush was governor of Texas. He also served as secretary of state and as a justice on the Texas Supreme Court.

He’s been involved in the Bush administration’s approach to civil liberties and fighting terrorism.

He wrote a controversial memo in which Bush claimed the right to waive anti-torture law and international treaties to protect prisoners of war.