Leahy Seeks Status Of DOJ Officials
Asked To Cooperate With Judiciary Panel's Probe
Into U.S. Attorney Dismissals

Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales seeking updated information on the status of Department of Justice (DOJ) employees who have been asked to cooperate with the panel’s investigation into the firing and replacement of U.S. Attorneys.  Earlier this month, Gonzales told Leahy and Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that DOJ officials would voluntarily cooperate with the Committee. 

The text of the letter is below.  A pdf version is also available. 

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March 27, 2007

Honorable Alberto Gonzales
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.

Dear Attorney General Gonzales:

On March 8 you met with me and other Senators in my Capitol office about the mass firings of United States attorneys.  You agreed at that time that the five Justice Department employees would cooperate with us in our investigation and that there would be no need for the Committee to utilize its subpoena authority.  Soon thereafter, D. Kyle Sampson resigned as your chief of staff.  A few days later, we were told that he was no longer employed at the Department of Justice and had hired an attorney.  Now we have learned that Monica Goodling has taken a personal leave of absence from the Department and we have been informed by her counsel that she will invoke the Fifth Amendment’s privilege against self-incrimination in a criminal matter. 

Is Ms. Goodling still employed by the Department of Justice? What is the employment status of Michael Battle, Michael Elston and William Mercer with the Department of Justice? Please inform the Committee of those employees who have separate counsel.   

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY
Chairman

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