U.S. Attorneys

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U.S. Attorneys

As the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and as a former prosecutor, Senator Leahy is investigating inconsistencies in the explanations that Justice Department and White House officials have offered about the firing of several U.S. attorneys, as well as allegations that the firings involved political considerations about their official duties. He is also concerned that the Bush Administration intended to use a new provision of the PATRIOT Act to fill such vacancies – a provision that was supposed to be used during emergencies, such as terrorist attacks -- which would bypass the check and balance of Senate confirmation.

U.S. attorneys are the chief federal law enforcement officers in their districts, and they have an enormous responsibility for implementing anti-terrorism efforts and taking the lead to fight crime and public corruption. Senator Leahy is concerned that politicizing the ranks of U.S. attorneys has a chilling effect on law enforcement up and down the entire law enforcement and judicial system, from the courtroom to the police officer on the beat.

He wants to get to the truth behind these events to prevent these kinds of abuses from happening again.

Statements, Letters, And Releases About
The U.S. Attorneys Fired By The Department Of Justice

Leahy To File Committee Report In U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal November 18, 2008
Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Report By The Inspector General And The Office Of Professional Responsibility On The Dismissal Of Nine U.S. Attorneys September 29, 2008 ***Audio And Video Available***
Leahy Rebukes White House For Continued Failure To Comply With Congressional Subpoenas August 14, 2008
Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Comments Of Attorney General Michael Mukasey To The American Bar Association August 12, 2008

Comment Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On Administration’s Second Refusal To Provide Testimony From Joshua Bolten August 7, 2008

Attorney General Asked To Assess Damage Done To Justice Department By Illegal, Politicized Hiring Practices August 1, 2008

Leahy Presses Rove, Bolten To Testify After Court Rules Against Immunity For White House Officials July 31, 2008 ***Audio and Video Available***

Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, On District Court Ruling Against Immunity For White House Officials Subpoenaed To Testify Before Congress July 31, 2008

MOST RECENT NEWS:

Leahy To File Committee Report
In U.S. Attorney Firing Scandal

November 18, 2008

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is pictured here with Ranking Member Arlen Specter at a press conference to discuss the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys on September 29, 2008.

Resources from the Congressional Research Service:

Presidential Advisers' Testimony Before Congressional Committees: An Overview

U.S. Attorneys Who Have Served
Less Than Full Four-Year Terms,
1981-2006

The Congressional Research Service provides members of Congress with non-partisan research and analysis of legislation and issues. It's Sen. Leahy's goal to make all of these reports available to the tax payer.