WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a
 comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary
 Committee, on DOJ Inspector General Glenn Fine's letter reporting that his
 inquiry will examine Attorney General Gonzales' testimony:
     "I am pleased that Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine
 will look into my concerns about potentially false, misleading or
 inappropriate testimony by the Attorney General. I look forward to the
 Inspector General's findings on the unprecedented firings of nine United
 States Attorneys, the improper political hiring of career officials within
 the Justice Department, the misuse of National Security Letters, and the
 efforts to bypass the Department's finding that a warrantless surveillance
 program was without legal basis. These actions have eroded the public's
 trust and undermined morale within our justice system, from the top ranks
 to the cop on the beat. The current Attorney General is leaving, but these
 questions remain. It is appropriate that the Inspector General will examine
 whether the Attorney General was honest with this and other Congressional
 committees about these crucial issues. His investigations can help restore
 independence and accountability, which have been sorely lacking at the
 Justice Department."
     A copy of Inspector General Fine's letter, delivered Thursday, is
 available on request (202-224-3693), along with the text of Leahy's letter
 to Fine of Aug. 16.
 
 

SOURCE Office of Sen. Patrick Leahy