Leahy to Gonzales: Points to Address
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy
(Evan Vucci - AP)
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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) last week sent Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales a letter listing 12 topics he expects Gonzales to clarify at Tuesday's hearing. Excerpts:
" When you last testified . . . you often responded to questions from Senators on both sides of the aisle that you could 'not recall.' . . . By some counts, you failed to answer more than 100 questions . . . I would like to avoid a repeat of that performance."
"1.On April 19, you testified . . . that you had not spoken with anyone involved in the firings about that process. . . . Then on May 23, Monica Goodling testified . . . that she had an 'uncomfortable' conversation with you during which you outlined your recollection of what happened and asked her for her reaction to your version. Is Ms. Goodling's testimony accurate, and if so, how do you account for your previous, uncorrected testimony to this Committee?"
"2.Why has your description of who made the decisions [about the attorney firings], and who was most involved in the decision-making process, changed over time?"
"4.Recent documents . . . indicate that you received reports in 2005 and 2006 of violations in connection with the PATRIOT Act and abuses of National Security Letters . . . [including] unauthorized surveillance, illegal searches, and improper collection of data. . . . Yet, when you testified . . . you sought to create the impression that Americans' civil liberties and privacy were being effectively safeguarded."
"6. When you were asked . . . if any senior Justice Department officials, including your former deputy, James Comey, expressed concerns about the Bush Administration's warrantless electronic surveillance program, you testified: 'I do not believe that these DOJ officials . . . had concerns about this program.' Mr. Comey subsequently testified [that] . . . he informed you, as White House counsel, and others including the Vice President, that the Justice Department had concluded that the Administration's warrantless electronic surveillance program did not have a legal basis."
"12. Apparently, the Department of Justice Inspector General suffers under a limitation that restricts his ability to investigate misconduct by you. . . . Will you agree to the removal of this limitation?"
