Standing Up for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law
For more than seven years, the Bush Administration has pursued a dangerously aggressive view of Presidential power, at the expense of our essential freedoms, liberties, and the rule of law. Whether by launching an illegal domestic spying program, firing United States Attorneys for political reasons, approving legal memos that justified the use of torture, or issuing an unprecedented number of Presidential "signing statements," this Administration has made clear its view that the President stands above the law and may disregard our time-tested system of a government of checks and balances, and our treasured American liberties.
I join countless Rhode Islanders in rejecting these extreme views. As a former state and federal prosecutor, my experience has taught me that we can keep Americans safe without sacrificing our civil liberties. That's why I've worked hard to fight against President Bush's abuses of power.
I played an active role in the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation into the politically-motivated firing of U.S. Attorneys and pushed hard for the resignation of then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, whose failures of leadership seriously harmed the Department of Justice. During that investigation, I discovered a little-known Bush administration change to the rules governing communications between the White House and D.O.J. that could leave ongoing criminal investigations vulnerable to meddling by political operatives. I led the charge to change the rule back.
I've also fought for civil liberties in my capacity as a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. I sponsored and cosponsored amendments that would ban the use of torture by U.S. government officials; and I have been a leading advocate for stronger privacy protections whenever the government conducts surveillance for intelligence purposes. I'm proud that Congress passed provisions I negotiated to protect Americans traveling abroad from being spied on without a court order.
We've made important progress, but there is much more to be done. I will continue to stand up against torture, for our civil liberties, and for balanced government and the rule of law.