Comment of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, on DOJ Inspector General Glenn Fine's Letter Rep

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