FORMER CIA OFFICER CONVICTED FOR UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURES AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Monday, January 26, 2015

Former CIA Officer Convicted For Unauthorized Disclosure of National Defense Information and Obstruction of Justice

A former CIA officer was convicted today by a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, of illegally disclosing national defense information and obstructing justice.

Attorney General Eric Holder, FBI Director James B. Comey, Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente of the Eastern District of Virginia made the announcement.

“This is a just and appropriate outcome,” said Attorney General Holder.  “The defendant’s unauthorized disclosures of classified information compromised operations undertaken in defense of America’s national security.  The disclosures placed lives at risk.  And they constituted an egregious breach of the public trust by someone who had sworn to uphold it.  As this verdict proves, it is possible to fully prosecute unauthorized disclosures that inflict harm upon our national security without interfering with journalists' ability to do their jobs.  And I want to thank the investigators, prosecutors and support staff who made this outcome possible for their relentless efforts in advancing a complex case that spanned multiple years.”

“He violated his sworn duty to protect our nation's secrets and he betrayed our country,” said Director Comey.  “The FBI will continue to pursue these cases vigorously.”

“Jeffrey Sterling was trusted with the nation's most sensitive secrets and chose to expose them - putting our national security at risk, and endangering lives in the process,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “These cases are challenging, but vitally important to our efforts to secure critical intelligence on behalf of the American people.”

“Over 10 years ago a disgruntled former CIA employee disclosed extremely sensitive classified information to a journalist,” said U.S. Attorney Boente.  “That classified information was critical to our national defense, and releasing it was illegal and went against Mr. Sterling's professional commitments to the CIA.  Mr. Sterling's vindictive and careless choices ultimately led us here today and to this unanimous verdict. I would like to thank the trial team and our partners at the FBI's Washington Field Office and the Central Intelligence Agency for their hard work and commitment to this case.”

Jeffrey Alexander Sterling, 47, of O’Fallon, Missouri, was convicted today in the Eastern District of Virginia of six counts of unauthorized disclosure of national defense information, and one count each of unlawful retention of national defense information, unauthorized conveyance of government property and obstruction of justice.  Sterling was indicted on Dec. 22, 2010, and arrested on Jan. 6, 2011.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 24, 2015.

According to evidence presented at trial, Sterling was employed by the CIA from May 1993 to January 2002.  From November 1998 through May 2000, he was assigned to a classified clandestine operational program designed to undermine the Iranian nuclear weapons program.  He was also the operations officer assigned to handle a human asset associated with that program, a person identified at trial as Merlin.  Sterling was reassigned in May 2000, at which time he was no longer authorized to receive or possess classified documents concerning the program or the individual.

In connection with his employment, Sterling, who is a lawyer, signed various security, secrecy and non-disclosure agreements in which he agreed never to disclose classified information to unauthorized persons, acknowledged that classified information was the property of the CIA and also acknowledged that the unauthorized disclosure of classified information could constitute a criminal offense.  These agreements also set forth the proper procedures to follow if Sterling had concerns that the CIA had engaged in any “unlawful or improper” conduct that implicated classified information.  These procedures permit such concerns to be addressed while still protecting the classified nature of the information.  The media was not an authorized party to receive such classified information.

In August 2000, Sterling pursued administrative and civil actions against the CIA.  Evidence at trial showed that Sterling, in retaliation for the CIA’s refusal to settle those actions on terms favorable to him, disclosed information concerning the classified operational program and the human asset to a New York Times reporter working on an unpublished article in early 2003 and a book the reporter published in January 2006.  Sterling’s civil and administrative claims were ultimately dismissed by the court.

Evidence demonstrated that in February and March 2003, Sterling made various telephone calls to the reporter’s residence and e-mailed a newspaper article about the weapons capabilities of a certain country that was within Sterling’s previous clandestine operational assignment.  While the possible newspaper article containing the classified information Sterling provided was ultimately not published in 2003, evidence showed that Sterling and the reporter remained in touch from December 2003 through November 2005 via telephone and e-mail.  In January 2006, the reporter published a book that contained classified information about the program and the human asset.

Evidence at trial showed that Sterling was aware of a grand jury investigation into the matter by June 2006, when he was served a grand jury subpoena for documents relating to the  reporter’s book.  Nevertheless, between April and July 2006, Sterling deleted the e-mail containing the classified information he had sent from his account in an effort to obstruct the investigation.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office, with assistance in the arrest from the FBI’s St. Louis Field Office.  This case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Eric G. Olshan of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Senior Litigation Counsel James L. Trump and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick of the Eastern District of Virginia.

AG HOLDER'S REMARKS ON INCARCERATED YOUTH EDUCATION

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks on Meeting the Education Needs of Incarcerated Youth

Alexandria, VAUnited States ~ Monday, December 8, 2014

Good morning – and thank you all for being here.

I’d like to thank the dedicated public servants here at the Northern Virginia Juvenile Detention Center for welcoming us to Alexandria today.  It’s an honor, as always, to stand among so many of the committed professionals who work tirelessly to change the lives of our young people, to get them on the right paths, and to provide the resources they need to overcome adversity and fulfill their full potential.  And it’s especially fitting that we gather at a facility where so much of this critical work takes place to make an important announcement that will help take these efforts to a new level.

It is a privilege to join my good friend, Secretary Arne Duncan – and our colleagues from the Departments of Justice and Education – in unveiling a critical new resource for improving educational systems for youth who come into contact with our juvenile justice system.

This announcement is born of the recognition that, in this great country, all children – all children – deserve equal access to a high-quality public education.  And this is no less true for children in the juvenile justice system.

In recent months, we’ve seen the emergence of a growing national dialogue about the need to ensure that America’s justice system serves everyone equally – and to instill renewed trust in that system from top to bottom – from the law enforcement officers who bravely patrol our communities, to the ways in which we use incarceration, diversion programs, reentry initiatives, and other tools to protect public safety while empowering people to become productive, law-abiding citizens.

This morning, we’re taking yet another crucial step to advance this work.  To bolster the effectiveness of our system and improve the ways in which it serves the American people.  And to ensure that system-involved youth throughout the country can imagine different futures for themselves – and then prepare for those futures by laying the groundwork of a successful path forward.

The President has underscored the urgent need for action to lift up our youth, too many of whom face an uphill climb out of poverty and crime.  His My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which aims to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential, specifically emphasizes the importance of strengthening correctional education for juveniles.

Through the Federal Interagency Reentry Council I convened nearly four years ago, and in close partnership with Secretary Duncan and his colleagues, the Justice Department – and particularly our Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention – has been doing important work to reach out to young Americans who haven’t gotten the education they deserved while they were involved with the juvenile justice system.

We’ve learned that many of these kids received deficient instruction.  In some troubling cases, they reported receiving no instruction at all.  And still others attended class every day – which, for some, represented a pivotal change in behavior – only to find that their hard work would not count toward a high school diploma.

These findings illustrate not only an unacceptable failure – on the part of our nation – to live up to our stated commitments, but also a lost opportunity to intervene in the lives of incarcerated youth.

These issues are compounded by the thousands of young people whose futures they impact, thereby perpetuating cycles of criminality, poverty, and incarceration that can trap individuals for decades.  And they can have the effect of robbing entire communities – all across the country – of the potential and promise that these individuals have to offer.

As I’ve said many times during the six years I’ve served as Attorney General, we will never be able to incarcerate our way to better outcomes, a stronger nation, or a brighter future.  For youth especially, reducing contact with the justice system is the best hope for positive outcomes and for countering the economic challenges to state and local budgets posed by high levels of incarceration.

But for those who are in juvenile justice facilities, among the most powerful and cost-effective tools we have to ensure success after they are released are high-quality correctional education, training, and treatment.  That’s why we are working tirelessly to ensure that every young person who’s involved in the system retains access to the quality education they need to rebuild their lives and reclaim their futures.

Our Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Department of Education have been collaborating to support a reentry model for youth in secure confinement that we will be pilot testing over the coming year.

And I am pleased to announce today that the Departments of Justice and Education are taking the next step in this important effort – by unveiling new guidance for strengthening the support and instruction offered in juvenile justice facilities.

A key component of this correctional education package, entitled Guiding Principles for Providing High Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings, will serve as a resource for promoting educational attainment for all youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

It is our hope – and our expectation – that this document will offer a roadmap for enhancing not only their academic abilities, but also their social and emotional skills; that it will reduce the likelihood of recidivism; and that it will amplify their chances to grow, to contribute, and to succeed.

And this guidance recognizes that children in juvenile justice facilities are often the very same children who need our educational support the most – whether they are learning with disabilities or learning English as a non-native language.

The exact figures vary from study to study, but we know that roughly 20 percent of youth in juvenile justice facilities receiving Department of Education dollars have disabilities.  Yet, of those with diagnosed learning disabilities, less than half report that they are getting the services they need.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, every one of these children – including those involved with the justice system – is entitled to a free appropriate education.

Juvenile facilities must comply with this important law.  And our new guidance will encourage the behavioral and social support services that are necessary to address the individual needs of all youth, including those with disabilities and English learners.

This guidance also recognizes that all learning environments must be safe, free of violence, and free of harassment.  And it lays out concrete principles that codify the enduring responsibility, moral imperative, and powerful incentive that our nation has to educate young people while they’re in the juvenile justice system.

In addition, today the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights are issuing a Dear Colleague letter to school districts, state educational agencies, and juvenile justice agencies, reminding these entities about the application of federal civil rights laws to recurring issues in correctional education.  The Dear Colleague letter explains how federal laws protect confined students from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability and sex.

Together, the Guiding Principles document and the Dear Colleague letter – along with the department’s longstanding work to enforce the rights of confined youth, to ensure fairness in the juvenile justice system, and to prevent youth contact with that system whenever possible – reaffirm our strong commitment to juvenile justice reform.

I am also pleased to note that, as you’ll hear from Secretary Duncan in just a moment, this guidance makes clear that youth who are ready to pursue higher education may be eligible to fund their studies through Pell Grants.  Offering this support is a critical element in our effort to reduce barriers to reentry.  And I commend Secretary Duncan for his leadership on this issue.

Of course, we know that young people make mistakes.  But even when those mistakes are serious enough to require placement in a juvenile correction facility, youth should not be deprived of the chance to better themselves and improve their prospects for law-abiding and productive futures.

Quality education is, and will always be, an essential component in preventing delinquency and crime.  It can empower, engage, and transform a young person’s view of him- or herself.  And it can broaden opportunities, raise expectations, and elevate every child’s sense of his or her place in the world.

So today, it is a special privilege to stand among young people who are taking the difficult but vital steps necessary to turn the page – and chart a new course – for themselves, their families, and their communities.

It takes tremendous courage to own up to past mistakes, and it takes significant resolve to plot a different path forward.  I’ve seen throughout my career in federal law enforcement that reclaiming one’s future is the challenge of a lifetime.  And I will always be proud to support – and empower – those who accept this challenge.

I want to thank you all, once again, for the opportunity to be here today.  And I’d like to turn things over to our outstanding Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, who has devoted his career to advancing these efforts – and who will provide more information on this announcement.

A.G. HOLDER'S REMARKS AT COPS OFFICE CELEBRATION

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Remarks by Attorney General Holder at the Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the COPS Office
Washington, DCUnited States ~ Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you, Ron [Davis], for that kind introduction – and for your outstanding leadership of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.  In the time you’ve been with us, you’ve already made invaluable contributions to the incredible legacy we celebrate this morning.  And I am proud to join you in commending every current and former member of the COPS Office staff for their exceptional efforts.

It’s a pleasure to welcome so many distinguished guests to the Department of Justice today.  It’s a tremendous privilege to help recognize the achievements of each of the former COPS directors and staff members who is here with us.  And it’s a distinct honor to do so alongside leaders from the White House, from Congress, from offices throughout the Justice Department – and from several police departments – as we pay tribute to this office, reaffirm its mission, and redouble our commitment to its vital work.

When President Bill Clinton signed the 1994 Crime Bill that created the COPS Office – a landmark piece of legislation authored by then-Senator Joe Biden – he envisioned “a national effort at the grassroots level in each and every community … to enshrine the values and common sense the crime bill represents.”  Over the past 20 years, this critical office – and the dedicated public servants who lead it – has stood on the literal front lines of that effort.  In every corner of the nation, you, your colleagues, and your predecessors have done the hard work of building trust in neighborhoods long characterized by disorder and suspicion.  You have forged strong relationships – and unbreakable bonds – between law enforcement leaders and community members.  And you have confronted all manner of seemingly-intractable crime problems and other persistent challenges that have – in far too many cases – contributed to an unacceptable status quo.

Over the years, this work has paid dividends – in lives improved and saved; in communities strengthened and made more secure; in law enforcement officers made safer; and in taxpayer resources used more effectively.  During the last two decades, the COPS Office has built a record of remarkable – and I would even say unparalleled and unprecedented – achievement.  Together, we have invested $14 billion in community policing initiatives to make our streets safer and our communities more secure.  We have awarded roughly 39,000 grants to state, local, territory, and tribal law enforcement agencies throughout the country, funding 126,000 additional law enforcement officers and benefiting nearly three-quarters of the nation’s law enforcement agencies.  And we have trained 700,000 law enforcement personnel, community members, and government leaders to put community policing principles into action.

Beyond these efforts, we have produced and distributed more than two million copies of publications, training guides, and resources.  We have funded thousands of school resource officers through the COPS in Schools program.  And we have fostered innovative partnerships between law enforcement agencies and entities as diverse as the Environmental Protection Agency and local child protective services.

Taken together, these grants, trainings, and partnerships have had a clear and measurable impact in communities – and individual lives – from coast to coast.  When the Government Accountability Office studied the effectiveness of the COPS Office in 2005, it found that COPS funding had produced significant reductions not only in the overall crime rate, but particularly in rates of violent crime and property crime.  FBI statistics indicate that the national rate of violent crime in 2012 was roughly half the rate in 1993.  On Monday, the FBI issued a new report on last year’s crime rate that confirmed that this decline is continuing.  And the GAO has found that, over the years, a significant percentage of the nationwide drop we’ve experienced can be attributed to COPS expenditures.

Just as importantly, for the first time in more than four decades, we’ve seen that – since President Obama took office – crime rates and incarceration rates are now declining together.  This is a signal achievement in which everyone here can take tremendous pride.  And these promising trends verify what we already know to be true about community policing: that closer community ties and deeper community engagement have the power to reduce crime by building trust, mutual respect, and strong cooperation between law enforcement officials and the residents they serve.

These efforts go to the heart of our national work to improve public safety.  They speak to the power – and the responsibility – of every individual police officer to make a positive difference.  And they have been made possible only through the tireless commitment of COPS Office professionals.

Critically, these gains are not visible only in the aggregate – at the 30,000-foot level – in the form of national statistics or abstract trends.  This progress is real.  It is measurable on the ground.  And it is clearly evident in the dramatic transformations we’ve seen in communities across the country.

From Phoenix to Hartford – from Sacramento to Miami – COPS Office assistance and support are helping to create and restore the kinds of inviting, safe, and secure environments in which parents can feel confident raising their children, and in which children are proud to grow up.  Throughout my career in public office – and especially during my tenure as Attorney General – I have seen, as you all have seen, that city by city, block by block, community policing is brightening our neighborhoods.  It is strengthening the fundamental fabric of our nation.  And none of it is happening by simple blind luck or good fortune.  On the contrary: all of this has resulted directly from the outstanding leadership, the positive vision, and the concerted efforts of people sitting in this room today.  And it will continue only with your persistent engagement, expert guidance, and steadfast resolve.

Like everyone here, I am deeply invested in the success of this approach – and confident that it will continue to have a lasting impact – in part because I have witnessed its power firsthand.   I served as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia at a time when Washington was a city in crisis, suffering from an epidemic of crime and corrosive antagonism between residents and law enforcement.  In response, and with the support of President Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno, my office launched the first community policing and community prosecution initiative to be implemented in our nation’s capital.  In the years since, this city’s U.S. Attorney’s Office has had striking success in bringing down crime rates in the District.  And, for me, community engagement has remained both a personal and professional priority – which is why I have been a vocal supporter of the COPS Office since the day it was created.

In fact, the hallmarks of the COPS Office’s work – in driving evidence-based strategies, sparking early interventions, supporting tailored approaches to distressed communities, and developing creative reforms of outdated methods – have greatly influenced the Obama Administration’s approaches to priorities far beyond the realm of community policing.  They are among the animating principles behind the “Smart on Crime” initiative I launched last year to strengthen the federal criminal justice system – from top to bottom – in part by moving beyond outdated metrics and toward a more holistic approach to law enforcement, sentencing, incarceration, and rehabilitation.  These same principles are also reflected in the groundbreaking My Brother’s Keeper initiative that President Obama announced in February, to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.  Through this initiative – and particularly through the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, which the President kicked off in September – the Administration is working alongside cities and towns, businesses, and foundations that are taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class.

All of this is important, ongoing work – and all of it springs from the efforts that you and your colleagues are leading.  I am confident that, today, as we celebrate 20 years of progress, we can do so with great optimism about the future we’re building together.

As we speak, the COPS Office continues to take significant steps toward rebuilding trust where it has been eroded, confronting long-simmering issues before they erupt, and spreading effective community policing strategies to cities and towns throughout the nation.  In September, I announced a new round of grants through the COPS Hiring Program – totaling nearly $124 million – that will support the hiring and retention of 944 law enforcement officers in 215 agencies and municipalities throughout the country.  These investments will serve pressing needs – such as localities experiencing high rates of violent crime – while reinforcing our national commitment to community policing, writ large.

In addition, the COPS Office has been instrumental in the recent launch of our National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, an exciting and wide-ranging new effort that emphasizes training in evidence-based strategies, as well as policy research and development, to combat mistrust and hostility between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.  From Las Vegas, to Philadelphia, to St. Louis County, we’re engaging in collaborative reform with law enforcement leaders – helping agencies move proactively to enhance their policies, procedures, systems to address particular issues and strengthen relationships with citizens.  From Seattle, to Detroit, to Ferguson, Missouri, we are providing intensive training and technical assistance to help law enforcement agencies respond to issues arising from specific incidents.  These efforts are part of COPS’ overall continuum of services to advance community policing and ensure that police agencies engage in constitutional practices.

In the days ahead, the office will also be expanding its efforts to educate a new generation of law enforcement leaders.  And I’m proud to announce today that COPS officials and experts are beginning to look systematically at the circumstances that have allowed certain communities to take proactive steps to avert potential tragedies.  As it unfolds, this cutting-edge “Near Miss” initiative will help us learn from the quick thinking, the smart policies, and the effective procedures that have succeeded in maintaining both public safety and officer safety during prior incidents.  And it will allow other cities to replicate strategies that have been proven to work.

Even more broadly, the Justice Department will also continue working to mitigate the considerable threats our officers face every time they put on their uniforms.  As the brother of a retired law enforcement officer, I know firsthand the anxiety that family members and friends feel whenever their loved ones are out patrolling the streets.  I feel strongly that all Americans owe our courageous law enforcement personnel a tremendous debt of gratitude for their patriotic service, for their often-unheralded sacrifices, and for the dangers they routinely face in the name of public safety.  And that’s why I have always been proud to support these selfless public servants; grateful for the tradition of excellence and professionalism they extend each day; and steadfast in my commitment to make sure our officers can return safely to their homes and their families – every day and night.

In recent years, thanks to the leadership of COPS officials; the resources and training the department has made available through initiatives like VALOR and the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program; and the sweeping commitment we’ve made to help prevent violence, to improve officer resilience, and to increase survivability during violent encounters – including ambushes and active shooter situations – I’m pleased to note that the Justice Department is working harder than ever before to empower our local, state, and tribal partners to do their jobs both safely and effectively.

These efforts are both broad in scope and potentially transformative in their intended impacts.  But today – with your help, and with the continued leadership of Ron and his colleagues – I believe it’s time to take them even further.

It’s time to extend the progress we’ve seen over the past two decades to each of the vibrant communities that has not yet experienced equivalent gains, despite the courage and commitment of our brave men and women in law enforcement.  It’s time to expand our reach, to magnify our focus, and to redouble our efforts to bring a community-oriented approach to neighborhoods still suffering from crime, from blight, and from neglect.  And it’s time to ask ourselves, as a nation, whether we are conducting policing in the most effective and efficient way possible – so we can confront 21st-century challenges with 21st-century solutions; so we can consider the profession in a comprehensive way; and so we can provide strong, national direction on a scale not seen since President Lyndon Johnson’s Commission on Law Enforcement nearly half a century ago.

Under the leadership of the COPS Office, we’re already taking important initial steps.  The Justice Department is currently working with major police associations to conduct a broad review of policing tactics, techniques, and training – so we can help the field combat emerging threats, better address persistent challenges, and thoroughly examine the latest tools and technologies to enhance the safety, and the effectiveness, of law enforcement.  This review will provide a comprehensive, foundational document detailing key developments and challenges in American law enforcement over the last 50 years.  It will seek to identify gaps in knowledge that will inform future discussion, research, and practice.  And going forward, I will support not only continuing this timely review, but significantly expanding it.

Of course, like you, I have no illusions that this work will be easy; that areas in crisis will be quick to respond to our determined efforts; or that distrust, division, and disparity will be eradicated overnight.  We must continue to stand up – and stand together – in advancing these difficult and often dangerous efforts.  We have seen, over the last two decades, that this work requires consummate focus, perseverance, and commitment.  But we have also proven – time and again – that America’s law enforcement leaders, this unique office – and its outstanding staff, both past and present – are more than equal to the task.

This morning, I call upon all of you – those who are here today, those who are tuning in on the Justice Television Network, and your partners across the nation – to reaffirm your commitment to the cause we share.  To reassert your devotion to the mission that drives us, and the work that binds us together.  And to rededicate yourselves to the task now before us, and the progress with which we’ve been entrusted, as we continue to build – and to bolster – the effective American police forces, and the prosperous American communities, that all of our citizens deserve.

Thanks to your indispensable efforts, I am confident that we will continue to see community trust increase, and crime and violence decline, across the nation.  Thanks to the record of achievement we’ve established over the past two decades – and especially the last six years – I’m certain that we will continue to fortify America’s ranks of committed public safety professionals.  And thanks to the strong and steady leadership of our next Attorney General – Loretta Lynch, who will be a fierce ally in this fight, a champion of law enforcement, and an outstanding leader of this department, once she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate – I have no doubt that the next 20 years can bring even more of the positive change that we have seen over the last 20.

At every stage of my career, I have been both honored and humbled to count you as colleagues and partners in this important work.  Although my path will soon lead me in a new direction, I want you to know that I will never stop seeking ways to contribute, to lead, and to give back to the country I love so dearly.  And no matter where my individual journey may take me, I look forward to where our shared efforts will lead us in the months and years to come.

At this time, it’s my great pleasure to introduce our next speaker – a leader who has been involved with national criminal justice policy for more than three decades.  Laurie Robinson served as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs for a total of ten years, during both the Clinton and Obama Administrations, making her the longest-serving AAG in OJP’s history.  She was instrumental in increasing this department’s focus on science and evidence-based programming.  And in addition to being an indispensable leader, and the current Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University, she also happens to be my very good friend.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Laurie Robinson to the podium.

Component:
Office of the Attorney General

AG HOLDER'S COMMENTS ON CAPTURE OF AHMED ABU KHATALLAH

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Attorney General Holder Delivers Statement on the Arrest of Ahmed Abu Khatallah for His Role in Attack in Benghazi, Libya

WASHINGTON—Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement Tuesday regarding the arrest of Ahmed Abu Khatallah for his role in the attack on the U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya:

“Our nation’s memory is long and our reach is far. The arrest of Ahmed Abu Khatallah represents a significant milestone in our efforts to ensure justice is served for the heinous and cowardly attack on our facilities in Benghazi.  Since that attack – which caused the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty – we have conducted a thorough, unrelenting investigation, across continents, to find the perpetrators.  The arrest of Khatallah proves that the U.S. government will expend any effort necessary to pursue terrorists who harm our citizens.  Khatallah currently faces criminal charges on three counts, and we retain the option of adding additional charges in the coming days.  Even as we begin the process of putting Khatallah on trial and seeking his conviction before a jury, our investigation will remain ongoing as we work to identify and arrest any co-conspirators. This is our pledge; we owe the victims of the Benghazi attack and their loved ones nothing less.”

AG HOLDER PROMISES AGGRESSIVE ENFORCEMENT AGAINST STOLEN IDENTITY REFUND FRAUD

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Monday, April 7, 2014

As Tax Filing Deadline Nears, Attorney General Holder Calls Stolen Identity Refund Fraud ‘Rising Threat,’ Vows Aggressive Enforcement Against Scams
Justice Department Charged More Than 880 Defendants Involved in Stolen Identity Refund Fraud in the Past Year

As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, Attorney General Eric Holder warned U.S. tax filers to beware a “rising threat” of scammers seeking fraudulent refunds based on stolen identities, and vowed aggressive enforcement against the practice.  Speaking in a recorded video message released on the Justice Department’s website, Attorney General Holder explained that a growing pool of criminals are engaged in the activity, including gangs and drug sellers seeking quick access to cash.

The Justice Department’s Tax Division, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, have prioritized the investigation and prosecution of individuals who engage in stolen identity refund fraud.  In the last year alone, the Department charged more than 880 defendants involved in stolen identity refund fraud, and the IRS reports that it resolved or closed approximately 963,000 cases involving identity theft victims.

“This is an increasingly urgent problem,” said Attorney General Holder.  “Its impact can be devastating to families that are counting on legitimate tax refunds that are diverted by identity theft.  And especially in recent years, the Justice Department has seen the scale, scope, and execution of these fraud schemes grow significantly.”

The Attorney General urged Americans to protect themselves by reporting suspicious activity and learning more at the IRS website, the Justice Department’s Tax Division website, and STOPFRAUD.GOV.  Noting that anyone can be a target of these scams, Attorney General Holder shared his own recent experience with tax refund fraud after two individuals in Georgia attempted to obtain a fraudulent refund using his personal information.

            The complete text of the Attorney General’s video message is below:

“With the time to file taxes just around the corner, we at the Justice Department want to warn you about a rising threat facing law-abiding taxpayers.

“Over the last several years, stolen identity refund fraud has affected hundreds of thousands of Americans, victimizing honest citizens and draining billions of taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Treasury.  In fact, the IRS reported that last year they resolved and closed approximately 963,000 cases involving identity theft victims.  Criminals who perpetrate these schemes use stolen personal identifying information – such as Social Security numbers – to file false tax returns with the IRS in order to steal fraudulent tax refunds.

“These scams are no longer just about white-collar criminals.  They are carried out by a variety of actors – from greedy tax return preparers to identity brokers who profit from the sale of personal information – to gangs and drug rings looking for easy access to cash.  And these criminal enterprises disproportionately target the most vulnerable members of society – including low-income families, the elderly, Medicaid recipients, and those who have lost loved ones – including children.

“This is an increasingly urgent problem.  Its impact can be devastating to families that are counting on legitimate tax refunds that are diverted by identity theft.  And especially in recent years, the Justice Department has seen the scale, scope, and execution of these fraud schemes grow significantly.

“Fortunately, our knowledge of these crimes – and our ability to stop them – has grown as well.  Last year alone, the Justice Department charged more than 880 defendants for their involvement in stolen identity refund fraud.  Over the last few years – in some instances – those convicted of these crimes have faced sentences totaling upwards of ten years in prison.  These sentences match the seriousness of these crimes.  And they demonstrate our steadfast commitment to investigating and prosecuting tax refund fraud that involves identity theft.

“Particularly as we approach April 15th – as millions of Americans prepare and file this year’s tax returns – the Justice Department and its partners are stepping up our enforcement efforts.  And we’re taking aggressive action to stop stolen identity refund fraud in its tracks whenever and wherever it occurs.

“The Justice Department will use every tool at its disposal to go after these scammers.  And we’ll keep working with the IRS, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Postal Inspection Service, and other federal law enforcement agencies – as well as state and local law authorities – to combat these crimes.  But we need members of the public to do their part by staying vigilant.  After all, identity thieves can target anyone – something I saw firsthand last year, when two people attempted to get a fraudulent tax refund using my personal information.

“So I urge all of you to help my colleagues and I raise awareness about this growing threat.  Protect yourself by reporting suspicious activity and filing your taxes as early as possible.  And keep yourself from becoming a target by learning more about fraud and identity theft on the IRS website – or by visiting STOPFRAUD.GOV.”

AG HOLDER'S REMARKS AT INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Conference
~ Monday, October 21, 2013

Thank you, Chief [Craig] Steckler, for those kind words; for your leadership as President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police; and for your four decades of service to law enforcement agencies across the state of California. It’s a privilege to share the stage with you today, and a pleasure to join Executive Director [Bart] Johnson, the IACP’s Board of Directors – and so many of your distinguished members – as we celebrate the achievements, and honor the sacrifices, of law enforcement professionals throughout the country and around the world.

I’d particularly like to thank Chief [Michael] Kehoe for taking the time to be with us here in Philadelphia.  He and his colleagues in Newtown, Connecticut have displayed remarkable leadership in a time of unspeakable tragedy, working to heal a community that has witnessed the very worst of humanity.  Our nation will be forever grateful for your service.

I’d also like to congratulate Pennsylvania State Trooper [Timothy] Strohmeyer on being named International Police Officer of the Year.  His courageous actions in the line of fire last December – when he placed his own life at great risk in order to save the lives of those around him – exemplified the very best of what it means to be a public servant.  He is a hero in the truest sense of the word. And it’s an honor to join the IACP in celebrating such a prestigious, and well-deserved, recognition.

Finally, I’d like to thank all of the federal law enforcement officials who are with us today – including my good friend, FBI Director Jim Comey, and representatives of the FBI, ATF, and DEA – for their dedication, and excellent work, during the recent federal government shutdown.  Although a substantial portion of the Justice Department’s workforce had to be furloughed – and many employees and their families faced hardships – you and your colleagues responded to this unnecessary and avoidable crisis with resolve.  You worked tirelessly to ensure that the Justice Department’s vital life and safety functions were not interrupted.  And alongside each of the local departments represented here this morning – and thousands of others, led by IACP members, across this country – you kept fighting to keep the American people safe.

For 120 years, particularly in moments of great challenge, the IACP has been a strong ally – and an indispensable leader – in our national efforts to do just that.  Through the decades, this organization has stood as a driving force for progress – advancing the struggle against crime and violence while protecting the safety of those on the front lines.  You’ve repeatedly proven the power of cooperation and collaboration across jurisdictions – and even international borders. You’ve stood up, and spoken out, for the physical and mental health of those who risk their lives to safeguard their communities.  And especially in recent years – through sequestration, furloughs, and unprecedented budgetary difficulties at every level of government – you’ve helped to secure historic progress in fulfilling the priorities we share.

As we speak – across the United States – your work is enabling us to make a meaningful, measurable difference in fighting terrorism, combating threats to the most vulnerable members of society, and preventing the gun-, gang-, and drug-fueled violence that steals too many promising futures each day.  In the last few years alone, you’ve brought your considerable expertise to bear in helping agencies like the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to strengthen the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.  You’ve bolstered our national network of Fusion Centers – so we can share information and intelligence more freely, communicate more effectively, and operate more efficiently than ever before. You’re moving in a variety of ways to counter global threats like cybercrime and violent extremism.  And here in Philadelphia, this week, you’re discussing some of the most urgent challenges your members face – including the critical role that every local police department must play in responding to active shooter situations such as last month’s tragic mass shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

Between 2000 and 2008, the United States experienced an average of approximately five active shooter incidents every year.  Alarmingly, since 2009, this annual average has tripled.  We’ve seen at least 12 active shooter situations so far in 2013.  Even more troubling, these incidents seem to be getting more and more deadly.

Over the last four years, America has witnessed an increase of nearly 150 percent in the number of people shot and killed in connection with active shooter incidents. Although research methods and results vary, it’s become clear that new strategies – and aggressive national response protocols – must be employed to stop shooters in their tracks.

In the past, patrol officers commonly trained to “contain and wait” an active shooting incident until more specially trained and equipped personnel could arrive.  But years of after-action analysis has ushered in a major tactical shift and reinforced the need for an immediate, aggressive response to active shooters.  In order to prevent additional casualties, it is often patrol officers – not necessarily SWAT teams – who serve as the tip of the spear in responding to these incidents.

The reality is that police don’t always have the luxury of time to get their most highly-trained, best-equipped officers on the scene.  To save lives, the first officers to arrive must sometimes be the ones to directly engage an active shooter.  That’s why all law enforcement officers must have the best equipment and most up-to-date training to confront these situations.  We owe these officers nothing less.

And we take this responsibility seriously.  This is why the FBI has partnered with the IACP and other groups to provide guidance to the first officers who arrive on the scenes of these crimes.  Over the last decade, the Justice Department has helped train 50,000 front-line officers, more than 7,000 on-scene commanders, and over 3,000 local, state, and federal agency heads on how to respond to active shooters. After the tragic losses at Sandy Hook Elementary School, we joined with the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and Education to bring our comprehensive efforts to a new level.  And we’re currently engaging with other agency partners, law enforcement leaders like you, and outside experts to develop guidance for how schools, houses of worship, institutions of higher learning, and even ordinary citizens should prepare for active shooter incidents.

With your support, we’re placing an increased emphasis on the need to carefully evaluate threats, and certain individuals, in order to disrupt planned shootings and other violent attacks.  The FBI’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Center works daily with local law enforcement and others to assess individuals who may be on a trajectory to commit acts of violence.  Since 2011, the Center has reported hundreds of successful disruptions – including an anticipated 150 this year alone. In every case – both in the intervention process, and when responding to active shooter incidents – local law enforcement officers have saved innocent lives by reacting with integrity, courage, and uncommon valor in the face of these too-frequent tragedies.

As we move forward with these efforts, I want to assure you that leaders at every level of the Justice Department and the FBI are determined to continue working with the IACP to make sure your members have the tools, training, and guidance they need to respond to active shooter incidents – and other threats – whenever and wherever they arise.  And we’re committed to continuing the frank and constructive dialogue that our organizations have built over the last century.

This is why I’ve made it a priority to take part in the IACP’s annual conference every single year since becoming Attorney General.  Throughout my career – as a prosecutor, as a former judge, and as the brother of a retired police officer – I’ve been inspired, and humbled, by the bravery of men and women in law enforcement.  I’ve been proud to support leaders like all of you.  And I’m here today not just to engage with you – and learn from you – but also, quite simply, to say thank you: for your tireless commitment to public service.  For consistently bringing innovative leaders together – at forums like this one – to discuss pressing challenges.  And – especially – for stepping to the forefront of our national efforts to address the deficiencies and disparities that have plagued America’s criminal justice system for far too long.

As I indicated in August, in a speech before the American Bar Association in San Francisco, President Obama and I are determined to work with Members of Congress from both parties – as well as state leaders, local officials, and law enforcement – to keep protecting public safety while strengthening our criminal justice system as a whole. With this goal in mind – under the Department’s new “Smart on Crime” initiative – I’ve announced a number of changes that will enable us to forge the stronger neighborhoods, the safer communities, and the more just society that all of our citizens deserve.  These include modifications to the Justice Department’s charging policies with regard to mandatory minimum sentences for certain federal low-level, drug-related offenses. This will help ensure that individuals accused of these crimes can face sentences that are better suited to their alleged conduct – and that limited criminal justice resources can be use more effectively, to hold accountable violent criminals, drug kingpins, and high-level traffickers.

My colleagues and I are also taking steps to advance proven strategies for improving reentry and reducing recidivism.  We’re exploring a range of innovative diversion programs, such as drug rehabilitation and community service initiatives, that can serve as alternatives to incarceration in some cases. And we’ll be counting on your continued leadership – and close engagement – as we implement these changes and continue to move forward with the kinds of comprehensive public safety solutions that the IACP has championed for decades.

I’m confident that these targeted reforms will help to address concerns that all of us share.  Just as importantly, they will improve the ability of policymakers and law enforcement to allocate resources to the areas that need our assistance – and your hard work – the most.

After all, as police chiefs, you have some of the most difficult jobs in America.  On a daily basis, you’re charged with maintaining order in communities that are sometimes defined by disorder and distress.  The fact is that a disproportionate number of those communities are communities of color – where young African American and Latino men are at increased risk of becoming involved with our criminal justice system, as victims or as perpetrators.

These are communities where too many Americans are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, criminality, and incarceration – and where law enforcement officers work heroically, but often against long odds, to stem a seemingly relentless tide of violence.  Interactions between area residents and officers on patrol are, in too many cases, characterized by distrust and even hostility – on both sides.  We’ve seen all too often that some law enforcement officers believe that community residents tolerate and even encourage disrespect for the law – while some citizens feel that the police unfairly target them for mistreatment and abuse.

That’s why it’s time to declare, once and for all, that we must do better – as a country and as a people.  For the safety of our men and women on the front lines – and in the name of winning the respect and cooperation of America’s minority communities – it is incumbent upon law enforcement leaders to help bridge this divide.  And we can start by recognizing that compliance with the law begins not with the fear of arrest or even of incarceration – but with respect for the institutions that guide our democracy.

A substantial body of research tells us that – when those who come into contact with the police feel that they are treated fairly – they are more likely to accept decisions by the authorities, obey the law, and cooperate with law enforcement in the future – even if they disagree with specific outcomes. Clearly, each of us has an opportunity, and a responsibility, to refocus on engagement with the individual communities we serve – by involving our fellow citizens in the process of establishing clear norms of behavior; by setting standards for right and wrong; and, ultimately, by relegating the era of suspicion and distrust to the past.

I’m pleased to note that many of the police departments represented here – under the leadership of visionary executives in and beyond this room – have already demonstrated their commitment to the process of reconciliation. Across the country, countless IACP members and their colleagues are applying groundbreaking research – in procedural justice, implicit bias, and truth-telling – to the jurisdictions they serve.  I’m proud to report that the Justice Department is supporting this work through our COPS Office and the Office of Justice Programs – under the leadership of Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason, who we’re fortunate to have with us this morning.

In many places, these collaborative efforts – to provide training on procedural justice, to promote reconciliation, and to improve interactions with police and young people of color – are already showing tremendous promise.  Yet a great deal of work remains to be done when it comes to supporting police departments, increasing public safety, and standing with every member of the rank-and-file.

This is why, in addition to your success, my colleagues and I are also firmly committed to your safety. Despite the ill-advised sequestration and other shortfalls, the Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded nearly $280 million during Fiscal Year 2013 – under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program – to support more than 50 states and territories and over a thousand local jurisdictions.  Under our groundbreaking VALOR initiative – which I announced at an IACP conference three years ago – we’ve held 77 trainings to help prevent violence against law enforcement, and to improve officer resilience and survivability during violent encounters.  To date, more than 11,000 officers have completed this training.  Our COPS Office is currently offering additional resources – convening an Officer Safety and Wellness Working Group and distributing funds to support the hiring and retention of officers across the country.  Just last month, I traveled to Detroit to announce the latest round of COPS hiring grants – which will award 263 agencies a total of $125 million to help fund nearly 1,000 law enforcement positions, including more than 350 school resource officers.

Beyond these important resources, the Department is working to provide our officers with the lifesaving equipment they need to do their jobs both safely and effectively.  Since our Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program was launched more than a decade ago, we have awarded more than $270 million toward the purchase of over one million protective vests.  We’ve also instituted a “mandatory wear” policy for all uniformed officers in jurisdictions receiving BVP funds. In 2012 alone, vests saved the lives of no fewer than 33 officers in 20 different states.  Thirteen of these vests – including the one that most likely saved Trooper Strohmeyer’s life – were purchased, in part, with BVP funds.  And as we come together today to continue this important work, to build upon the progress we’ve seen, and to carry our collective efforts into the future, I want all of you to know that – for today’s Justice Department, and for this Attorney General – all of this is only the beginning.

We will never stop fighting for the tools and resources you need.  We’re committed to complementing the work you do every day – through your Center for Officer Safety and Wellness and your renewed focus on preventing officer suicide – to ensure that America’s finest can protect themselves.  To honor – and empower – all who wear the badge.  And to help overcome the challenges that lie ahead – and secure the future we must build – by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with every member of America’s premier law enforcement organization.

I look forward to all that we must, and surely will, achieve together.  I am proud, and deeply grateful, to count you as colleagues and partners.  I thank you, once again, for all that you do.  And I wish you all a most productive conference.

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER WELCOMES JUSTICE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES BACK AFTER SHUTDOWN

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 
Attorney General Holder Welcomes Employees Back to Work
~ Thursday, October 17, 2013
Dear Colleagues,

I am grateful to be able to welcome the entire Department of Justice back to work! Those of you who were not able to work during the shutdown were greatly missed, and the efforts of those who were at work during this difficult period were truly appreciated.

My top priority now is to ensure that each of you is able to fully resume your work as quickly as possible. The Department of Justice draws its strength from the expertise, hard work, and tenacity of our nearly 115,000 employees. All of you are essential to protecting the American people and to performing our critical law enforcement functions. Our collective work is absolutely crucial, and I don't want another day missed.

I regret the anxieties and hardships the shutdown has caused you and your families. While you return to your work for the Department, I know that the financial consequences of the lapse in appropriations will continue to be of great concern to you. Over the coming days, we will continue to provide updates about how and when we will be able to address the consequences of the shutdown.

Thank you again for your tireless service to the American people. Let's get back to work!

Sincerely,

Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER'S REMARKS ON PUERTO RICO POLICE AGREEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 
Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at Puerto Rico Agreement Press Conference
~ Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Good afternoon – buenas tardes – and thank you all for being here.

I’d like to thank Governor García Padilla for welcoming me to San Juan today, and for hosting this important press conference.  It is an honor to join him, Associate Attorney General West, Chief of the Special Litigation Section Jonathan Smith, Puerto Rico Secretary of Justice Sánchez Betances – and our distinguished colleagues – in announcing the latest action that the Department of Justice has taken to reduce crime, ensure public safety and promote the highest standards of professionalism and integrity throughout America’s law enforcement community.

Today, the Justice Department and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico filed an historic and court-enforceable agreement to ensure that local police services will be delivered in a manner that is both highly effective and consistent with the Constitution, the laws of the United States and our most treasured values.  This agreement will require the Puerto Rico Police Department to implement – and to sustain – a variety of policies and practices related to ethical and responsible policing; police training; the use of force; searches and seizures; equal protection and non-discrimination; community engagement; and more.  These actions and policies are designed to remedy a range of longstanding and entrenched deficiencies that were uncovered by an extensive Justice Department investigation – many of which caused or contributed to unlawful conduct, such as the use of excessive force, including deadly force; misconduct to suppress the exercise of protected First Amendment rights; unconstitutional stops, searches and arrests; and other discriminatory practices, such as a systemic failure to investigate sexual assault and domestic violence allegations.

Once approved by Federal District Judge Gustavo Gelpi and fully implemented by the Commonwealth – and the men and women of the Puerto Rico Police Department – this agreement will serve as a blueprint for building a modern law enforcement agency that’s well-equipped to keep the people of Puerto Rico safe, while protecting their rights and civil liberties.

As we move forward, I’d like to acknowledge our strong partnership with Governor García Padilla, Superintendent Héctor Pesquera and other officials here in Puerto Rico.  I thank them for their commitment to addressing the problems that have been uncovered – which were both wide-ranging and deeply-rooted.  I’d like to recognize the brave officers serving the Puerto Rico Police Department, who – through this agreement – will gain the tools, training and critical support they need.  The reforms that flow from this agreement will make their jobs not only easier, but also safer, more effective and more rewarding.  And as the agreement is implemented, the public’s confidence in the Department – and its willingness to cooperate in public safety initiatives – will increase.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge all those whose individual contributions were instrumental in advancing the Justice Department’s investigation and making this agreement a reality.  Under the leadership of Associate Attorney General West – as well as Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Roy Austin, of the Department’s Civil Rights Division – the men and women of the Special Litigation Section have worked tirelessly for more than two years to make today’s announcement possible.  Special thanks to the career attorneys, investigators and paralegals, led by Acting Deputy Chief Luis Saucedo, who conducted the investigation and negotiated this important agreement.

I thank Governor García Padilla and his predecessor Luis Fortuño, who have shown a real commitment to reform.  Most importantly, I’d like to thank the many police professionals, investigators, attorneys, experts, local officials, community leaders and other stakeholders who came together to examine troubling and illegal practices and find responsible solutions.  And I particularly want to recognize and support the efforts that the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has undertaken to ensure that the rights of all individuals – including our children – are protected.

As we speak, the Justice Department is collaborating with Commonwealth officials to develop safe, lawful and cost-effective alternatives to incarceration for the many young people caught up in the correctional system in Puerto Rico – facilities whose unsafe conditions have been the subject of department scrutiny and oversight for more than 15 years.  I am encouraged to note that this Administration is committed to exploring juvenile correctional alternatives that have worked elsewhere.  And we anticipate that these efforts will greatly reduce the need for large, and often unsafe, correctional institutions for young people across this beautiful island.

I believe everyone here can be proud of today’s outcome, which represents a critical step forward – and reaffirms the Justice Department’s commitment to fair and vigorous law enforcement at every level.  We stand with you as partners committed to this goal, and I am pleased to announce several ways in which the Justice Department is bolstering our partnership.  Because the agreement will institutionalize a culture of accountability, the Justice Department will make available $10 million in asset forfeiture funds – in addition to Puerto Rico’s equitable share of any assets seized and liquidated in the future – to defray the cost of modernizing and reforming the PRPD.  In addition, the department is investing additional resources in joint taskforces between Justice Department components and local law enforcement agencies.  We are extending an existing carjacking initiative involving 13 local task force officers detailed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  We are creating a new task force, supported by 26 local task force officers, to enhance gun and drug interdiction efforts on the island.  These task forces have a real impact on violent crime.  The officers participating in them will obtain critical training to share with their colleagues, and help to build Puerto Rico’s internal capacity to improve public safety in the long-term.

The settlement and the additional resources we are announcing today  underscore our determination to work closely with federal, local, and tribal authorities to protect not only the safety of our people – but also the civil rights we hold dear.

And, although I recognize that complete and lasting reform will not take hold overnight, I’m confident that this agreement lays out a clear path for responding to concerns, correcting troubling practices, safeguarding the rights of Puerto Rican citizens, restoring public trust, and ensuring public safety.

At this time, it is my privilege to introduce our distinguished host, and a key partner in this reform effort – Governor García Padilla, who will provide additional details on today’s announcement.

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER SPEAKS REGARDING EXPLOSIONS IN BOSTON

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Ongoing Investigation into Explosions in Boston

The Attorney General released the following statement today on the ongoing investigation into the explosions in Boston:

"I want to express my deepest sympathies to the victims of yesterday’s heinous attack in Boston, to those who suffered injuries, and to those who lost friends and loved ones. All of you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

"As our nation struggles to make sense of this attack, I want to assure the citizens of Boston – and all Americans – that the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, and all of our federal, state, and local partners are working tirelessly to determine who was responsible for these unspeakable acts, and to make certain they are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law and by any means available to us. To this end, I have directed that the full resources of the Department be deployed to ensure that this matter is fully investigated. We will continue working closely with the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police – who have performed superbly – to respond to this tragedy, to maintain a heightened state of security, and to prevent any future attacks from occurring.

"As President Obama stated earlier today, we are treating this event as an act of terror. This morning, I met with the President and my fellow members of his national security team to discuss our continuing response. Although it is not yet clear who executed this attack, whether it was an individual or group, or whether it was carried out with support or involvement from a terrorist organization – either foreign or domestic – we will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice. The FBI is spearheading a multi-agency investigation through the Boston Joint Terrorism Task Force. They are devoting extensive personnel and assets to this effort – and have already begun conducting exhaustive interviews, analyzing evidence recovered from the scene, and examining video footage for possible leads. In addition, the ATF is providing bomb technicians, explosives assets, and other substantial investigative support. The DEA and U.S. Marshals Service are providing further assistance. And the Office of Justice Programs will coordinate victim support that the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may request under the Anti-terrorism Emergency Assistance Program.

"As our active and comprehensive investigation unfolds, these federal assets are coordinating with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and federal agencies across the government – including members of the Intelligence Community. This matter is still in the early stages, and it’s important that we let the investigation run its full course. I urge members of the public to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement, and be vigilant. The FBI has set up a tip line – at 1-800-CALL-FBI – for anyone who has information, images, or details relating to yesterday’s explosions along the Boston Marathon route. We are particularly interested in reviewing video footage captured by bystanders with cell phones or personal cameras near either of the blasts. In an investigation of this nature, no detail is too small.

"Finally, I want to recognize and thank all of the brave law enforcement officials, firefighters, National Guardsmen, medical staff, bystanders, and other first responders in Boston yesterday afternoon who heard the explosions, or received reports of casualties, or saw the shattered glass and rising smoke, and rushed to provide assistance to those in need.

"Each of these remarkable women and men placed the safety of others above their own. Their heroic actions undoubtedly saved lives. And their stories of courage and selflessness remind us that – even in our darkest moments – the American people have always displayed an extraordinary capacity for resilience. We will always be strongest when we stand united. And although today our hearts are broken, my colleagues and I are resolved to bring those responsible for this cowardly act to justice. We will be relentless in our pursuit of the individual or group that carried out this attack, while staying true to our most sacred values. And – as our investigation continues, I am confident that our nation will recover, and that we will emerge from this terrible tragedy not only safer, but stronger, than ever before."

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER TESTIFIES BEFORE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Testifies Before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Washington, D.C. ~ Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Grassley, and distinguished members of the Committee: I appreciate this opportunity to provide an overview of the Justice Department’s recent achievements, and the accomplishments that my colleagues – the 116,000 dedicated men and women who serve in offices around the world – have made possible. I look forward to working with you to take our critical efforts to a new level.

But before we begin this discussion, I must acknowledge the debt our nation owes to three Correctional Workers – employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons – who, over the last week and a half, have made the ultimate sacrifice: Officer Eric Williams, Officer Gregory Vineski, and Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati. As Attorney General, and as the brother of a retired police officer, I am determined to ensure that those responsible for the acts that led to their deaths are brought to justice. And my colleagues and I are committed to honoring the service of these and all other fallen officers by doing everything in our power to keep the women and men in law enforcement safe – and to continue the work that became the cause of their lives.

In this regard, I’m proud to report that the Department has made tremendous progress in combating violent crime, battling financial fraud, upholding the civil rights of all, safeguarding the most vulnerable members of society, and protecting the American people from terrorism and other national security threats. Particularly since last December’s horrific tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, the urgency of our public safety efforts has come into sharp focus. Earlier this year, I joined Vice President Biden and a number of my fellow Cabinet members to develop common-sense recommendations to reduce gun violence, keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those prohibited from having them, and make our neighborhoods and schools more secure. In January, President Obama announced a comprehensive plan that includes a series of 23 executive actions that the Justice Department and other agencies are working to implement, and a range of common-sense legislative proposals.

This morning, I’m pleased to join the President, the Vice President, and countless Americans in calling on Congress to enact legislation addressing gun violence – including measures to require universal background checks, impose tough penalties on gun traffickers, protect law enforcement officers by addressing armor-piercing ammunition, ban high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons, and eliminate misguided restrictions that require federal agents to allow the importation of dangerous weapons simply because of their age. I’m also pleased to echo the President’s call for the Senate to confirm Todd Jones as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – a critical Justice Department component that’s been without a Senate-confirmed leader for six years.

Of course, in addition to the Administration’s efforts to reduce gun violence, we remain focused on preventing gun-, gang-, and drug-fueled violence in all its forms. And we’re determined to combat domestic violence. In strengthening this work, I applaud Congress for passing a bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act – a landmark law that has transformed the way we respond to domestic violence – and I’m pleased that this bill will finally close a loophole that left many Native American women without adequate protection. The Justice Department looks forward to implementing this historic legislation. And we’re committed to moving in a range of ways to become both smarter and tougher on crime, and to remain aggressive and fair in our enforcement of federal laws.

Thanks to countless Department employees and partners, we’ve achieved extraordinary results. And nowhere is this clearer than in our work to protect America’s national security. Since 2009, the Department has brought cases – and secured convictions – against numerous terrorists. We have identified and disrupted multiple plots by foreign terrorist groups as well as homegrown extremists. And we’ve worked to combat emerging national security threats, such as cyber intrusions and cyber attacks directed against our systems and infrastructure by nation states and non-state actors, including terrorist groups. Last summer, the Department created the National Security Cyber Specialists network to spearhead these efforts. The network is comprised of prosecutors and other cyber specialists across the country who will work closely with the FBI and other partners to investigate malicious cyber activity, seek any necessary cooperation, and, where appropriate, bring criminal prosecutions as part of our government-wide effort to deter and disrupt cyber threats to our national security.

Beyond this work, the Department has taken significant steps to ensure robust enforcement of antitrust laws, protect the environment, crack down on tax fraud schemes, and address financial and health care fraud crimes. In cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services and others, over the last fiscal year alone, we secured a record $4.2 billion in recoveries related to health care fraud and abuse. As a result of our commitment to achieve justice on behalf of the victims of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, in January we secured a guilty plea and a record $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties from BP, and in February, the court approved a settlement requiring Transocean to pay $1.4 billion in fines and penalties. On February 25, we commenced trial of our civil claims against BP and others. And through the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, we’re working closely with federal, state, and local authorities to take our fight against fraud targeting consumers, investors, and homeowners to new heights.

Over the last three fiscal years – thanks to Task Force leaders and our partners – we have filed nearly 10,000 financial fraud cases against nearly 15,000 defendants – including more than 2,900 mortgage fraud defendants. Last month, the Department filed a civil suit against the credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s, seeking at least $5 billion in damages for alleged conduct that goes to the heart of the recent economic crisis.

We’re also striving to boost the capacity of our law enforcement allies and provide access to the tools, training, and equipment they need to do their jobs as safely and effectively as possible. And we’re working with them to promote the highest standards of integrity across every agency, department, and sheriff’s office.

This commitment – to integrity and equal justice under law – has also driven the Department’s Civil Rights Division in its efforts to address bias, intimidation, and discrimination – from America’s housing and lending markets, to our schools, workplaces, border areas, and voting booths. Since 2009, the Division has filed more criminal civil rights cases than ever before – including record numbers of human trafficking and police misconduct cases. We’ve led efforts to implement the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act – which improved our ability to achieve justice on behalf of Americans who are targeted because of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. We are fighting to preserve the principles of equality, opportunity, and justice that have always shaped our nation’s past – and must continue to determine our future.

In the days ahead, as Congress considers ways to make fair and effective changes to America’s immigration system, these same principles must guide efforts to strengthen our borders. These principles must continue to inform our actions, as we fairly adjudicate immigration cases, enforce existing laws, and hold accountable employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers or engage in illegal and discriminatory business practices that undermine competitiveness and the well-being of those who seek refuge on our shores.

This morning, my colleagues and I stand ready to work with leaders from both parties to help achieve lasting reform; to strengthen our ability to keep everyone in this country – especially our young people – safe; and to move forward in protecting the American people and achieving the priorities we share. But I must note that our ability to complete this work – and continue building upon the progress I’ve just outlined – will be severely hampered unless Congress adopts a balanced deficit reduction plan and ends the untenable reductions that last week set in motion a move to cut over $1.6 billion from the Department’s budget in just seven months’ time.

As we speak, these cuts are already having a significant negative impact not just on Department employees, but on programs that could directly impact the safety of Americans across the country. Important law enforcement and litigation programs are being disrupted. Our capacity – to respond to crimes, investigate wrongdoing, and hold criminals accountable – has been reduced. And, despite our best efforts to limit the impact of sequestration, unless Congress quickly passes a balanced deficit reduction plan, the effects of these cuts – on our entire justice system, and on the American people – may be profound.

I urge Congressional leaders to act swiftly to restore the funding that the Department needs to fulfill its critical mission and keep our citizens safe. And I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER SPEAKS AT UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LAW SCHOOL

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the University of Massachusetts School of Law
North Dartmouth, Mass. ~ Friday, March 1, 2013

Thank you, Dean Bilek, for those kind words, and for welcoming me to your beautiful campus this afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be with you – and Chancellor Grossman – here in North Dartmouth. And it’s a privilege to stand with so many educators; administrators; leading members of the bench and bar; distinguished guests, including Congressman Keating, United States Attorney Ortiz, United States Marshal Gibbons – and, especially, the students who make the University of Massachusetts such a remarkable place.

I always appreciate the chance to speak with future leaders of our nation’s legal community – and I’m particularly happy to join you today at the only public law school in Massachusetts. Although this institution is still young, I know it’s hard at work educating a new generation of lawyers, leaders, advocates, and public servants. I’m pleased to hear that it’s becoming a forum for robust debate – where issues of consequence are discussed and addressed. I’m grateful to be among the first to add my voice to this dialogue. And I’m proud to note that, with your clinical programs and recent provisional accreditation, UMass School of Law is well on its way to becoming an essential training ground for students from across the region – whose contributions will undoubtedly help to shape our nation’s course, and determine its path, for years to come.

As aspiring stewards of the law – and servants of those whom it protects and empowers – each of the young men and women before me has already made an important commitment. And you’ve taken on serious responsibilities: not just to focus on your coursework, but to consider how you can put your skills and talents to work once you leave this campus. Before you know it, some of you will join the ranks of the very first graduates of this new program. Others will follow close behind. And all of you will fan out across Massachusetts and around the country – seeking to make a living; striving to make your mark; and trying to answer the difficult questions that every legal professional must confront:

How will you use the knowledge you’ve gained on this campus to give back to your communities? What can you do to enrich the lives of your fellow citizens and make your country a better place? What will you imagine that your parents’ generation could not? And how will you make history – and make a difference – in a world too often afflicted by crime and violence?

The way forward will not always be easy or obvious – but the answers will soon be yours to discover, since these and many other questions represent the inheritance, and the solemn obligation, that’s entrusted to every great lawyer and leader. No matter how you choose to spend your career – whether you envision a future ruling from the bench, fighting for private clients, running for public office, bringing peace to war-torn countries, prosecuting dangerous criminals, or forging another path altogether your own – each of you will soon be among the most qualified in this country to lead, to serve, and to give. And, in all that you do, you’ll be called upon to fulfill the singular ideal that stands at the center of your legal education – and at the heart of your chosen profession: not merely to serve clients or win cases, but to do justice.

I realize this may sound like a tremendous obligation. But I also believe that the fact that you are here today proves you’re up to the task. I’m confident that you have what it takes to meet the challenges ahead. And I know that you’re driven – and well-equipped – to help us address some of the most complex and intractable problems we face.

For my colleagues at every level of the Department of Justice – as for each of the judges, policymakers, and elected leaders in this crowd – this important work constitutes a top priority. And that’s why – this afternoon – I’d like to spend a few moments discussing one of the defining issues of our time, and a critical responsibility that everyone in this room shares: the need to ensure the safety of our fellow citizens – and especially our children – by addressing the epidemic of gun violence that devastates too many lives, and steals too many promising futures, each and every year.

Particularly since last December’s horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut, the urgency of this problem has come into stark focus. Since that terrible day, this tragedy has been compounded by countless individual tragedies that take place on our streets; that pass too often unnoticed; and that too frequently decimate the lives of the most vulnerable among us.

In response, countless concerned citizens, outraged parents, elected leaders, advocacy groups, and private organizations across the country have come together to call – with one voice – for the common-sense protections that our young people deserve. And – at every level of the Obama Administration – my colleagues and I have made a steadfast commitment to doing everything in our power to reduce gun violence, keep deadly weapons out of the hands of those not allowed to possess them, and make our neighborhoods and schools more secure.

Earlier this year, I was honored to join Vice President Biden and a number of my fellow Cabinet members – along with representatives from more than 200 groups – in assembling a series of recommendations for accomplishing these goals. In January, President Obama announced this comprehensive plan, which includes 23 executive actions and a range of legislative proposals – all founded on a consensus that emerged from our meetings with policymakers, anti-violence advocates, gun owners and retailers, private organizations, police chiefs, and victims of gun violence: that, as President Obama said, "if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence – if there is even one life that can be saved – then we have an obligation to try."

Of course, this obligation is hardly exclusive to criminal justice professionals and political leaders. We’ll need the ideas, the energy, and the determination of every American to bring about the results we seek. We’re depending on ordinary citizens, and aspiring leaders like you, to join the robust, national discussion about these issues – and to guide and inform the efforts of elected and appointed leaders at every level. And we’re relying on you to speak out – and stand up – for the kinds of meaningful changes that will help to keep our communities safe.

Among the Administration’s proposals are a number of legislative reforms that we’ve called upon Congress to pass without delay – including measures requiring universal background checks, so that a full background check is required every time someone attempts to buy a gun; laws imposing tough new penalties against those who help funnel deadly weapons to dangerous criminals; and legislation banning high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons, updated and stronger than the bill enacted in 1994.

Beyond these proposals, the Justice Department and other agencies are currently working to implement the 23 executive actions that President Obama announced to reduce gun violence. For instance, the President has taken steps to reinforce the Department’s efforts to provide law enforcement with the tools, training, and resources they need to respond to active shooter situations. He has asked relevant agencies to make clear that federal law does not prohibit doctors from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement. And he has directed Administration leaders to finalize regulations under the Affordable Care Act that will help expand access to mental health care services.

The President has also announced a series of actions to strengthen the national background check system – by addressing gaps, bringing accountability to the sources of information the system relies upon, and examining our laws to make certain they’re effective in identifying those who should not have access to firearms. In addition, the Administration has encouraged licensed gun dealers to process transactions for private sellers using the NICS background system.

But all of this is only the beginning. The President has also put an end to what’s effectively become a "freeze" on rigorous, non-partisan research into gun violence by the Centers for Disease Control – and has directed the CDC to resume examining the causes of this violence and evaluating strategies for its prevention. He has called upon Congress to eliminate misguided restrictions that require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – or ATF – to authorize the importation of dangerous weapons simply because of their age. He has urged Senate leaders to move swiftly to confirm his nominee, Todd Jones, as Director of the ATF – a critical agency that’s been without a Senate-confirmed leader for six years. And he has directed officials throughout the Administration to work with individual school districts and community leaders to develop plans for making our schools, houses of worship – and institutions of higher learning like this one – safer.

Of course, our ability to complete this work – and fulfill all of the Department’s diverse missions – will be contingent on Congress adopting a balanced deficit reduction plan and ending the untenable cuts that are slated to go into effect today, reducing the Justice Department’s budget by over $1.6 billion in just seven months’ time. If this so-called "sequester" is allowed to persist, it will have a negative impact on the safety of Americans across the country. Our capacity – to respond to crimes and threats, investigate wrongdoing, and hold criminals accountable – will be reduced. And, despite our best efforts to limit the impact of sequestration, there’s no question that the effects of these cuts – on our entire justice system, and on the American people – may be profound.

At the same time, I recognize that – even if sequestration is brought to a timely end – none of our individual anti-violence proposals, on their own, will be enough to decisively end the epidemic that touches every city and town in this country. After all, as you’re learning here at UMass, few serious questions – of law or policy – can be met with straightforward, one-size-fits-all solutions.

But, as I’m sure you’re also learning, this simply means that it’s incumbent upon each of us to join in important discussions like this one. And it’s our responsibility – as Americans, and as stewards of the justice system – to help move this country toward the brighter future we seek – and that, together, we must build.

From reducing gun violence and confronting a range of public safety challenges, to expanding access to legal services, addressing disparities and divisions, and reaching for the ideals – of equality, opportunity, and justice – that have always defined the best in our profession, each of you will soon step into a future that is far from certain, in a world riven by uncommon challenges and evolving threats. You’ll be called upon – as public servants, private practice attorneys, community activists, or businessmen and -women – to use the law as a powerful tool to improve the lives of those around you.

Along the way, you may encounter obstacles, setbacks, and disagreements. You may find that making the progress you desire is not as easy as you might like. But if you hold true to the vision of optimism that inspired this institution’s founding – just a few short years ago; if you continue to believe in yourselves; and if you keep faith with one another, and with previous generations who once walked the paths you’re about to begin – then I’m confident that, just as your future will surely be filled with fascinating challenges, it will also be defined by limitless opportunities.

I can hardly imagine a more exciting time to be preparing to join the legal profession. I am honored to count each of you as partners – and colleagues – in the work that will soon become your responsibility, and must always remain our common cause. I want you to know that I’m proud of each and every one of you. And I am counting on you all.

Thank you.

ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER SPEAKS AT MEDAL OF VALOR CEREMONY

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony
Washington, D.C. ~ Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Thank you, Mary Lou , for those kind words; for your outstanding leadership of the Office of Justice Programs; and for your dedication to supporting public safety officers throughout the nation. It’s a pleasure to be with you today, and a privilege to join Vice President Biden and so many distinguished public servants – including Representative Cartwright; Director of the Bureau of Prisons Charles Samuels; Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Todd Jones; and Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance Denise O’Donnell – in paying tribute to this year’s recipients of the Medal of Valor.

This is an extraordinary occasion. I am grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge, and personally thank, each of our honorees – for their service to the American people; for their bravery in the face of grave dangers; and for all that they’ve sacrificed in the name of public and community safety.

I’d like to extend a special welcome to the colleagues, friends, invited guests, and proud family members who have traveled from across the country to salute these remarkable men and women. I’d like to thank you for all you’ve done to support those we’ve gathered to honor and to make their achievements possible. It’s a privilege to share this moment with you as we celebrate the work of these inspiring public servants, and present them with one of our nation’s most prestigious recognitions.

Today’s award recipients have distinguished themselves by going above and beyond the call of duty. And they now join the ranks of a select group of police officers and firefighters; sheriffs and EMTs; rescue squad members and highway patrolmen – who have earned this accolade, and who elevate America’s finest traditions of public service every day.

From our biggest cities to our smallest towns, the people we honor today stand on the front lines of the struggle against crime, terrorism, and threats to our most vulnerable communities.

These Medal of Valor recipients have fearlessly responded to desperate cries for help and have courageously risked their own lives to secure innocent victims, protect fellow officers, and end deadly assaults. Some entered a burning building – without hesitation and without the protection of a fire hose – to rescue an infant trapped inside. Another took quick and decisive action to subdue an armed and violent inmate plotting an escape from prison. And one of our awardees caught fire and braved temperatures over 1,000 degrees while carrying a victim to safety.

Through these selfless acts – and through the service you render to your communities and fellow citizens every day – each of you has earned the deepest thanks of a grateful nation. And all of you have incurred a debt of gratitude that this country can only hope to repay.

While no words can fully capture the courage that you have demonstrated, I believe you now join a cadre of heroes whose actions will always be remembered. And it is my sincere hope that your Medal of Valor will stand as a timeless tribute to your achievements – and a symbol of the tradition of excellence you each exemplify.

Of course, even as we celebrate the conduct – and the contributions – that define this remarkable group of public safety officers, we must be mindful of the fact that serious challenges – and urgent threats – remain before us. Just as this ceremony provides a chance to lift up the stories of our heroes, it also reminds us just how difficult and demanding your jobs can be. But that’s why, as I look around this crowd, I cannot help but feel confident about where your efforts will lead us from here.

Once again, on behalf of my colleagues across the Department of Justice: thank you for all that you do. I am proud to count you as partners in the work that remains our shared responsibility. And I congratulate you on this well-deserved honor.

Now, it is my privilege to introduce one of our country’s most principled leaders, a tireless advocate for public safety officers everywhere, and a very good friend whose lifelong service and commitment to our nation are an inspiration to us all.