Letter to the Honorable Alberto Gonzales, Attorney General

Letter

May 2, 2007

Honorable Alberto Gonzales
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Gonzales:

According to a National Journal article released Monday, the Justice Department last year changed the regulations governing hiring and firing practices for Justice Department employees. According to this article, you signed a confidential order in March 2006 delegating to two of your aides, former Chief of Staff D. Kyle Sampson and former White House Liaison Monica Goodling, authority over the hiring and firing of most political employees of the Justice Department.

As reported in the April 30th article, the order stated: "Under the authority of this delegation, any proposed appointments or removals of personnel who are 'inferior officers' within the meaning of [the] Excepting Clause of the Constitution shall be presented to the Attorney General... and each appointment or removal shall be made in the name of the Attorney General."

The Committee has issued multiple requests for the Department to produce documents in its custody, possession or control related to the Committee's investigation into the firings of U.S. Attorneys and alleged politicization at the Department, and to provide the Committee with the precise scope of the production. Despite these requests, the order has not been produced and its existence has not been disclosed. The order appears to be responsive to the Committee's requests insofar as it dealt with the appointment and removal of inferior officers who are not subject to Senate confirmation, which would include interim and acting U.S. Attorneys. Consequently, we ask that you please produce the order and all related documents immediately.

We look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY ARLEN SPECTER
Chairman Ranking Member

DIANNE FEINSTEIN CHARLES E.GRASSLEY
United States Senator United States Senator

CHARLES E. SCHUMER JEFF SESSIONS
United States Senator United States Senator