FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the University of California Berkeley School of Law Commencement
Berkeley, Calif. ~ Saturday, May 11, 2013
Thank you, Dean Edley, for those kind words – and thank you all for such a warm welcome. It’s a privilege to join you; Professor Murray; distinguished members of the faculty, staff, and administration; and so many proud parents, family members, friends, and alumni – in congratulating the Class of 2013, and celebrating the achievements that have defined your time here at Berkeley Law School.
I’d particularly like to thank Javier, Kate, and Aaron for their thoughtful remarks, and for all that they and their fellow student leaders have done to make today’s ceremony so special. It’s an honor to share the stage with you this morning – and a pleasure to be among the first to welcome you and your classmates into the legal profession. I’d also like to thank the musicians who are here with us – especially, as a person with West Indian roots, those talented steel drum players – for helping to set an appropriately formal tone for this important ceremony. Most of all, I’d like to thank the Class of 2013 for inviting me to share in this moment – as we mark the end of your formal legal training, and the beginning of your stewardship of our nation’s justice system.
This is an occasion you’ve been working toward – and waiting for – for three long years. In just a few moments, each of you will accept a diploma signifying your graduation from one of the most prestigious law schools in the country. You’ll take your leave of the campus, and the remarkable community of learning, that you’ve come to call home. You’ll say goodbye to friends you’ve made, and professors you’ll never forget. And you’ll fan out – around the state of California, throughout the country, and across the world – seeking to make a living, striving to make your mark, and aspiring – in every industry and field of endeavor – to improve our country; to make more peaceful a world that’s riven by misgiving and despair; to build the brighter future that all people deserve; and to advance the great and enduring promise that’s been woven throughout your legal education, and must now become your common cause: the promise of equal justice under law.
Of course, I realize that these challenges may seem distant, or even abstract, as we gather on this beautiful morning to celebrate your commencement. After all, your memories of final exams are still fresh, and you may have good reason to focus on more immediate concerns – about job opportunities, looming life decisions, and studying for the bar exam. Today’s ceremony marks an important milestone and I understand that, as we reflect on the achievements that have led you to this point, the last thing you may want to think about is accepting a new mantle of responsibility.
But – today of all days – that’s precisely what you must do. Your journey of service to the law – and to all whom it protects and empowers – is just beginning. Although the future you face is far from certain, each of you has been given a rare chance to make a meaningful difference. Uncertain times give birth to unique opportunities to effect positive change. And, as I look around this crowd of bright young faces, I can’t help but feel confident that you are ready, and superbly prepared, to do just that.
The Class of 2013 has come a long way since you arrived at Berkeley in 2010 – from 27 countries, 113 undergraduate institutions, 77 different majors, and a wide array of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Your diversity set you apart and, as diversity always does, provided the opportunity for tremendous individual interaction and enhanced institutional strength. Your previous achievements – as scientists, journalists, athletes, parents, military veterans, public servants, musicians, and artists – were impressive. And your potential is now truly without limit.
You’ve come together – and forged lasting bonds of friendship and fellowship. You’ve taken part in the same rituals and rites of passage – from AmJur Day, to Thursday night "bar review" – that have been familiar to Berkeley Law students for years. Whether you’ve earned a JD, an LLM, or a PhD, you’ve helped to strengthen and extend the tradition of collegiality and collaboration that has always made this institution such a remarkable place. And you’ve already begun to make a difference – and have a positive impact – far beyond this beautiful campus.
From protesting tuition increases across the state, to rallying support for same-sex marriage – you’ve raised your voices on some of the most pressing issues facing your peers and fellow citizens. From human trafficking to domestic violence, you’ve gained hands-on experience combating heinous crimes, providing assistance to victims, and navigating the complexities of our legal system. You’ve proven your commitment to the cause of justice – and the highest ideals of public service – by logging more than 18,000 hours of pro bono work and changing the lives of the clients of one of Berkeley’s nationally-recognized clinics. And you’ve done it all while coping with the academic rigors that come with a world-class legal education – and taking some time to relax and enjoy student life, during "wine bus" trips to Napa Valley and weekly gatherings of the "Wednesday Warriors." After all, as the old saying goes – "You Only 3L Once."
Today, this chapter draws to a close. But these experiences will stay with you. They will continue to guide your actions, inform your choices, and shape your path forward. Whether you envision a future prosecuting dangerous criminals, defending the accused, ruling from the bench, campaigning for elected office, leading a corporation, running a nonprofit, or charting some other course altogether your own – before you know it, you’ll find yourselves in positions of responsibility in all sectors of society. You’ll be entrusted with honoring and preserving the values you learned here – and building on the rich tradition of service and advocacy that your predecessors have established.
From Annette Adams – who, in 1920, became the first woman ever to serve in the United States Department of Justice as an Assistant Attorney General – to Chief Justice Earl Warren; from the great civil rights champion John Doar, to former Solicitor General Ted Olsen – over the last century, Berkeley Law alumni have done nothing less than shape, and re-shape, the world we live in. As we speak, Berkeley graduates are continuing this work at every level of our government, and across today’s Department of Justice – including in my office, where Margaret Richardson, Class of 2003, serves as my Chief of Staff and trusted advisor.
Thanks to these dedicated leaders, and countless others who have spoken out, sacrificed, and organized in order to advance the singular promise that unites us this morning – today, we live in an America that our forebears could only dream about. Before these talented women and men were providing critical leadership to our nation’s legal community, every one of them sat where you do today. Each, in their own way, was called upon to address the threats, and confront the novel legal questions, of their time. And, starting this moment graduates, it’s your turn.
It’s your chance to help realize your vision of a better world. It’s your obligation to move our nation confidently into the future – no matter what it might bring. And it’s your solemn responsibility – and humbling opportunity – to act with optimism; with fidelity to our most treasured principles; and with abiding faith in yourselves and one another – not merely to serve clients or win cases, but to ensure – in every case, in every community, and in every circumstance – that justice is done.
Since our country’s earliest days, the American legal community has risen to this challenge. But you are about to embark on your legal careers in an hour of particular consequence, at a crossroads in history – as our nation confronts grave obstacles and national security threats that demand our constant vigilance and steadfast commitment.
How we respond to such adversity – as leaders, as lawyers, and as Americans – represents a defining issue of our time. And as we reflect upon these threats this morning, each of you must consider some important questions: How can we uphold the values, and remain true to the highest ideals, of our legal system –
while keeping pace with 21st-century threats? In what ways could we, or should we, adapt and adjust this system consistent with our finest legal traditions? Above all, how can we be nimble in our pursuit of justice without sacrificing our dedication to our values and the rule of law?
None of these questions are rhetorical. Their answers are being debated every day – not only in seminars at world-class institutions like this one, but in the Executive Branch and the halls of Congress as well. Especially since last month’s horrific attacks at the Boston Marathon, the urgency of this discussion has come – once again – into sharp focus. Complicated and emotionally-charged issues of principle and procedure have been thrust back into the national spotlight. And the importance of finding the right answers would be difficult to overstate.
It is in such moments of difficulty and crisis – when cases are most shocking, emotions are running high, and fear is at a fever pitch – that our legal system, and all who serve it, are truly put to the test. At times of maximum danger we must always restrain the impulse to implement that which we might think to be effective but, indeed, is surely inconsistent with our treasured values. It is also important to remember, in these trying times, that nothing can be taken for granted. Positive outcomes are not preordained. As history teaches us, our great country doesn’t always get it right.
In 1942, just months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were removed from their homes here in California and throughout the Pacific coast. Many were transported to War Relocation Camps in isolated areas. More than 60 percent of those interned were American citizens. And, in a deeply misguided ruling, the United States Supreme Court held that this exclusion process passed constitutional muster.
More recently – in the aftermath of 9/11, as our nation struggled to cope with an unprecedented tragedy, and to respond to a new kind of stateless threat – fear and uncertainty drove us, in certain cases, to abandon our values in pursuit of information about those who would do us harm. We used techniques that were of questionable effectiveness, but were certainly inconsistent with who we say we are as a people. And in bringing suspected terrorists to justice, some questioned – and continue to question – the capacity and effectiveness of our federal civilian court system. Members of Congress placed unwise and unwarranted restrictions on where certain detainees could be housed, charged and prosecuted. In short, many lost faith with our founding documents and our time-tested, effective institutions.
In the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, many of these tired and meritless political arguments – and renewed calls to abandon the use of civilian courts in dealing with terrorism-related activity – are being made once again. And once again, every legal professional, every aspiring leader, and every graduate in this crowd today must renew your commitment to standing firm – in the face of manufactured controversy and overheated partisan rhetoric – to uphold our most sacred values.
Let me be clear: those who claim that our federal courts are incapable of handling terrorism cases are not registering a dissenting opinion. They are simply wrong. Their assertions ignore reality. And attempting to limit the use of these courts would weaken our ability to incapacitate and to punish those who target our people and attempt to terrorize our communities.
Throughout history, our federal courts have proven to be an unparalleled instrument for bringing terrorists to justice. They have enabled us to convict scores of people of terrorism-related offenses since September 11. Hundreds are properly, safely and securely held in our federal prisons, not Guantanamo, today. Not one has ever escaped custody. No judicial district has suffered a retaliatory attack of any kind. And no other tool has demonstrated such a robust ability to stop terrorists – and collect intelligence – over a diverse range of circumstances. I defy anyone, on the merits, to challenge these assertions.
Our heritage, and our legacy to future generations, clearly demand that we maintain full faith and confidence in a court system that has distinguished this nation for more than two centuries. Our security demands it, as well, because prosecuting terrorists in federal court is not just consistent with our values – it is extraordinarily effective. The Article III system is both strong and fair. And it has long been seen as legitimate around the world – setting this country apart, differentiating us from other nations, and serving as a model for others to envy – and to emulate.
Come what may, we must never cede our freedoms or curtail our dearest liberties, nor feel that there is a tension between them and our ability to keep safe. Especially in moments of crisis, when we are under attack or faced with difficulty and danger, our actions – your actions – must be grounded in the bedrock of the Constitution. And steps forward must be rooted not only in our proudest legal traditions – but also our highest ideals.
At the same time, we must never be afraid to engage in a robust, responsible dialogue about new strategies for dealing with new challenges – including the need to provide law enforcement with the tools and authorities necessary for gathering vital intelligence; keeping pace with rapidly-changing threats; and protecting public safety – all while safeguarding individuals’ rights to due process. Just as surely as we are today a nation at war – so, too we are, and must always remain, a nation of laws.
With all that you possess, and all you’ve been given, every member of the Class of 2013 has a special responsibility to help us meet these challenges – and keep advancing our uniquely American pursuit of a safer, more just, and more perfect Union. I’m encouraged to note that more than 50 of you are already planning to fulfill this obligation by pursuing positions in public interest law and public service. Others have been awarded post-graduate fellowships to perform public interest work. And two of you will soon be coming to the Justice Department – to work for me.
But, in the critical days ahead, no matter how you choose to put your legal training to work – in the public sector, in private industry, or in private practice – I urge you to keep up the habit of pro bono service you established here at Berkeley. Keep engaging with the difficult concepts and defining challenges you’ve grappled with on this campus. And never forget that every one of you is among the most qualified legal professionals in this country. You are among the best equipped to serve and to lead. And you are among the most prepared to help a new generation rise to the challenges of the moment, bring about the meaningful changes we need, and make this world – your world – a truly better place.
I know that each one of you has that ability – and that possibility – within you. I implore you to make the most of it. Use your unique skills, your idealism – and the power that your new law degree affords – to better yourselves, to improve your communities, and to solve the complex problems that undoubtedly lie ahead. Dare to question that which is accepted truth. Strive to change that which is unjust. And dedicate yourselves, above all else, to creating a world that reflects your aspirations for a brighter future; reaching for the principles that have always made our nation great; and fighting to secure and make real the promise of justice not only for your time, but for all time.
As you make your way forward, know that we have faith in you. We are proud of each one of you. And we are counting on this Class of 2013 to make more fair and just a world that now looks to you for the leadership that you are uniquely qualified to share.
Congratulations, Class of 2013 – and Godspeed.
Showing posts with label U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
ASSOCIATE OF USAMA BIN LADEN ARRESTED
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, Associate of Usama Bin Laden, Arrested for Conspiring to Kill Americans
"Abu Ghayth" Allegedly Appeared with Usama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri After September 11, 2001, Threatening Additional Attacks Against the United States
Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, aka "Suleiman Abu Gayth", a former associate of Usama Bin Laden, has been arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today in New York City with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office George Venizelos, and the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (NYPD) Raymond W. Kelly. Abu Ghayth is expected to be presented and arraigned tomorrow, March 8, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
"No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America's enemies to justice," said Attorney General Holder. "To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
"The arrest of Abu Ghayth is an important milestone in our ongoing counterterrorism efforts. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for bringing about this significant case and arrest," said Assistant Attorney General Monaco.
"It has been 13 years since Abu Ghayth allegedly worked alongside Usama Bin Laden in his campaign of terror, and 13 years since he allegedly took to the public airwaves, exhorting others to embrace al Qaeda’s cause and warning of more terrorist attacks like the mass murder of 9/11," said U.S. Attorney Bharara. "The memory of those attacks is indelibly etched on the American psyche, and today’s action is the latest example of our commitment to capturing and punishing enemies of the United States, no matter how long it takes."
"Sulaiman Abu Ghayth held a key position in al Qaeda, comparable to the consigliere in a mob family or propaganda minister in a totalitarian regime," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos. "He used his position to persuade others to swear loyalty to al Qaeda’s murderous cause. He used his position to threaten the United States and incite its enemies. His apprehension is another important step in the campaign to limit the reach of al Qaeda and enhance our national and international security."
"While New York City must remain vigilant to continued terrorist threats against it, Abu Ghayth's apprehension and prosecution promises to close another chapter in al Qaeda's notoriously violent history of killing Americans," said NYPD Commissioner Kelly. "This case also represents another success in the ongoing partnership between Federal agents and NYPD detectives through the JTTF."
As alleged in the superseding indictment that has been filed against Abu Ghayth in federal court:
Since around 1989, al Qaeda has been an international terrorist organization, dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. Usama Bin Laden served as the leader or "emir" of al Qaeda until his death on or about May 2, 2011. Members of al Qaeda typically have pledged an oath of allegiance, called bayat, to Bin Laden and to al Qaeda.
The core purpose of al Qaeda, as stated by Bin Laden and other leaders, is to support violent attacks against property and nationals, both military and civilian, of the United States and other countries. Between 1989 and 2001, al Qaeda established training camps, guest houses, and business operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries for the purpose of training and supporting its agenda of violence and murder. Members and associates of al Qaeda have executed a number of terrorist attacks, all in furtherance of the organization’s stated conspiracy to kill Americans, including the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which killed approximately 2,976 people.
From at least May 2001 up to around 2002, Abu Ghayth served alongside Usama Bin Laden, appearing with Bin Laden and his then-deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, speaking on behalf of the terrorist organization and in support of its mission, and warning that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001 would continue.
In particular, around May 2001, Abu Ghayth urged individuals at a guest house in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to swear bayat to Bin Laden. On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Bin Laden summoned Abu Gayth and asked for his assistance and he agreed to provide it. On the morning of Sept. 12, 2001, Abu Ghayth, appeared with Bin Laden and Zawahiri, and spoke on behalf of al Qaeda, warning the United States and its allies that "[a] great army is gathering against you" and called upon "the nation of Islam" to do battle against "the Jews, the Christians and the Americans." Also, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Abu Ghayth delivered a speech in which he addressed the then-U.S. Secretary of State and warned that "the storms shall not stop, especially the Airplanes Storm," and advised Muslims, children, and opponents of the United States "not to board any aircraft and not to live in high rises."
Abu Gayth arranged to be, and was, successfully smuggled from Afghanistan into Iran in 2002.
The indictment charges Abu Ghayth with participating in a conspiracy to kill United States nationals. The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. No trial date has yet been set in the case.
The charges and arrest of Abu Ghayth are the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Joint Terrorism Task Force – which principally consists of agents and detectives of the FBI and the New York City Police Department – the United States Marshals Service and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State also provided assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Cronan and Michael Ferrara of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, Associate of Usama Bin Laden, Arrested for Conspiring to Kill Americans
"Abu Ghayth" Allegedly Appeared with Usama Bin Laden and Ayman Al-Zawahiri After September 11, 2001, Threatening Additional Attacks Against the United States
Sulaiman Abu Ghayth, aka "Suleiman Abu Gayth", a former associate of Usama Bin Laden, has been arrested and charged in an indictment unsealed today in New York City with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Assistant Attorney General for National Security Lisa Monaco, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office George Venizelos, and the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (NYPD) Raymond W. Kelly. Abu Ghayth is expected to be presented and arraigned tomorrow, March 8, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.
"No amount of distance or time will weaken our resolve to bring America's enemies to justice," said Attorney General Holder. "To violent extremists who threaten the American people and seek to undermine our way of life, this arrest sends an unmistakable message: There is no corner of the world where you can escape from justice because we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
"The arrest of Abu Ghayth is an important milestone in our ongoing counterterrorism efforts. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for bringing about this significant case and arrest," said Assistant Attorney General Monaco.
"It has been 13 years since Abu Ghayth allegedly worked alongside Usama Bin Laden in his campaign of terror, and 13 years since he allegedly took to the public airwaves, exhorting others to embrace al Qaeda’s cause and warning of more terrorist attacks like the mass murder of 9/11," said U.S. Attorney Bharara. "The memory of those attacks is indelibly etched on the American psyche, and today’s action is the latest example of our commitment to capturing and punishing enemies of the United States, no matter how long it takes."
"Sulaiman Abu Ghayth held a key position in al Qaeda, comparable to the consigliere in a mob family or propaganda minister in a totalitarian regime," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Venizelos. "He used his position to persuade others to swear loyalty to al Qaeda’s murderous cause. He used his position to threaten the United States and incite its enemies. His apprehension is another important step in the campaign to limit the reach of al Qaeda and enhance our national and international security."
"While New York City must remain vigilant to continued terrorist threats against it, Abu Ghayth's apprehension and prosecution promises to close another chapter in al Qaeda's notoriously violent history of killing Americans," said NYPD Commissioner Kelly. "This case also represents another success in the ongoing partnership between Federal agents and NYPD detectives through the JTTF."
As alleged in the superseding indictment that has been filed against Abu Ghayth in federal court:
Since around 1989, al Qaeda has been an international terrorist organization, dedicated to opposing non-Islamic governments with force and violence. Usama Bin Laden served as the leader or "emir" of al Qaeda until his death on or about May 2, 2011. Members of al Qaeda typically have pledged an oath of allegiance, called bayat, to Bin Laden and to al Qaeda.
The core purpose of al Qaeda, as stated by Bin Laden and other leaders, is to support violent attacks against property and nationals, both military and civilian, of the United States and other countries. Between 1989 and 2001, al Qaeda established training camps, guest houses, and business operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other countries for the purpose of training and supporting its agenda of violence and murder. Members and associates of al Qaeda have executed a number of terrorist attacks, all in furtherance of the organization’s stated conspiracy to kill Americans, including the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, which killed approximately 2,976 people.
From at least May 2001 up to around 2002, Abu Ghayth served alongside Usama Bin Laden, appearing with Bin Laden and his then-deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri, speaking on behalf of the terrorist organization and in support of its mission, and warning that attacks similar to those of September 11, 2001 would continue.
In particular, around May 2001, Abu Ghayth urged individuals at a guest house in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to swear bayat to Bin Laden. On the evening of Sept. 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the United States, Bin Laden summoned Abu Gayth and asked for his assistance and he agreed to provide it. On the morning of Sept. 12, 2001, Abu Ghayth, appeared with Bin Laden and Zawahiri, and spoke on behalf of al Qaeda, warning the United States and its allies that "[a] great army is gathering against you" and called upon "the nation of Islam" to do battle against "the Jews, the Christians and the Americans." Also, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Abu Ghayth delivered a speech in which he addressed the then-U.S. Secretary of State and warned that "the storms shall not stop, especially the Airplanes Storm," and advised Muslims, children, and opponents of the United States "not to board any aircraft and not to live in high rises."
Abu Gayth arranged to be, and was, successfully smuggled from Afghanistan into Iran in 2002.
The indictment charges Abu Ghayth with participating in a conspiracy to kill United States nationals. The offense carries a maximum term of imprisonment of life. No trial date has yet been set in the case.
The charges and arrest of Abu Ghayth are the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the Joint Terrorism Task Force – which principally consists of agents and detectives of the FBI and the New York City Police Department – the United States Marshals Service and the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State also provided assistance.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John P. Cronan and Michael Ferrara of the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jolie Zimmerman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER SPEAKS AT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS MEETING
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Association of Attorneys General Winter/Spring Meeting
Washington, D.C. ~ Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thank you, Attorney General Gansler, for those kind words; for your leadership as President of the National Association of Attorneys General; for your service to the State of Maryland; and of course for your friendship over the years. As some of you know, Doug and I once worked together in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. So it’s a special privilege to stand with him today – and a pleasure to be included, once again, in this important annual meeting.
I’d particularly like to welcome this organization’s newest members – the 11 state attorneys general who are participating in this event for the first time. And I’d like to recognize – and thank – all of the good friends and colleagues who are here with us today. Thank you for lending your time, your diverse perspectives, and your immense talents to this Association’s critical work.
Over the past four years, I have been fortunate to work with many of the leaders in this room to confront a range of criminal justice, law enforcement, and national security challenges. Alongside my colleagues and counterparts throughout the Administration – including Vice President Biden, Director Cordray, Comptroller Curry, and Acting Associate Attorney General West, all of whom you’re hearing from this week – we’ve accomplished a great deal by working together across state boundaries and party lines. The Justice Department has benefitted – and, more importantly, the American people have benefitted – from your tireless work, your expert guidance, and your steadfast commitment to doing what’s best for those we’re privileged to serve. And the results of our collaboration speak for themselves.
By helping to strengthen our state and federal criminal justice systems, fighting to expand access to legal services, and advancing critical public safety initiatives and consumer protections, you’ve addressed persistent challenges and improved countless lives. You’ve made crime victims whole again. And you’ve brought assistance – and healing – to troubled areas.
In close partnership with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, you’ve helped ensure that our approach in identifying and combating fraud targeting consumers, investors, and homeowners, has never been smarter, more systematic, or more effective. Last January, many of you joined with the Justice Department and other partners to bring about the largest joint federal-state residential mortgage settlement in our nation’s history. Since 2009, a number of you also have provided invaluable assistance to the federal investigation into alleged misconduct by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services – behavior that goes to the heart of the recent economic crisis. And no less than 13 of you are moving forward with parallel actions complementing the Department’s civil lawsuit, which I announced earlier this month.
From protecting our national security, to preventing domestic violence, eradicating human trafficking, cracking down on intellectual property crimes, and combating youth violence – my colleagues and I have been proud, and fortunate, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you all. Together, we’ve streamlined key investigative and enforcement activities across multiple agencies and offices – enabling leaders at every level of government to make the most of precious taxpayer resources. As a result, there can be no question that we’re making a meaningful, measurable difference in the lives of our fellow citizens each and every day.
Yet I recognize – as you do – that, for all we’ve accomplished, our work is far from over. When it comes to protecting the safety, and the sacred rights, of the American people, much remains to be done. In too many places, serious – and seemingly intractable – public safety challenges persist. And nowhere is this clearer than in our ongoing efforts to eradicate the gun violence that touches every jurisdiction represented here – and steals too many promising futures each year.
Last December’s horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut stand as shocking reminders of the epidemic that afflicts communities across the country – from inner cities, to rural areas, to tribal lands. But, on a daily basis, this unspeakable tragedy is compounded by countless individual tragedies that take place on our streets; that pass too often unnoticed; and that too frequently decimate the lives of our most vulnerable citizens: our children.
Every loss is shattering and inexplicable – and every one is an outrage. This is why – as concerned citizens, as heartbroken parents, and as public servants empowered to make a difference on behalf of those we’ve sworn to protect – it’s time for each of us to steel our resolve, and renew our commitment to respond to this senseless violence with renewed vigilance.
At every level of the Administration – and particularly at our nation’s Department of Justice – my colleagues and I are determined to work with organizations like this one to build bipartisan consensus for taking decisive action to end gun violence. And we will not rest until we’ve done everything in our power to prevent future tragedies like the one that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Of course, there will never be a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for addressing any challenge of this magnitude – and confronting all of its underlying causes. But we must not allow the size or complexity of this problem to deter us from taking action.
Earlier this year, under the leadership of Vice President Biden, I had the privilege of working with my fellow Cabinet members to assemble a series of common-sense recommendations for keeping guns from falling into the wrong hands, keeping our young people safe, and keeping our neighborhoods and schools more secure. This comprehensive plan – which President Obama announced last month – is founded on a consensus that emerged from the discussions we convened with representatives of more than 200 groups of policymakers, anti-violence advocates, gun owners and retailers, private organizations, police chiefs, and victims of gun crimes. And every step forward is predicated on the principle that President Obama laid out in the weeks after the Newtown tragedy: that "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."
This obligation has driven the Administration to call on Congress to adopt legislation to require "universal" background checks, so that a full background check is performed every time someone attempts to buy a gun; to impose tough new penalties on gun traffickers who help funnel deadly weapons to dangerous criminals; and to pass a ban on high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons, updated and stronger than the legislation enacted in 1994.
Beyond these proposals, agencies across the Administration are currently working to implement the 23 executive actions that President Obama announced in order to provide federal officials – and state leaders like you – with the tools and information we need to keep our citizens safe. For instance, we’ve begun encouraging private sellers to work with licensed gun dealers to run their transactions through the NICS background system – something that many already do on a regular basis, and that more can begin to do starting immediately. We’re moving to strengthen this critical tool by addressing gaps, making certain that the information included in the system is complete and accurate, and examining our laws to ensure they are effective when it comes to identifying those who should not have access to firearms.
We welcome your support for this important work. In ensuring that the NICS background check database is as complete as possible, state records are the lifeblood of the system. And I urge each of you to encourage law enforcement agencies in your state to make the most of the National Crime Information Center by both supplying – and then accessing – pertinent crime data. NCIC helps local law enforcement perform their work more safely – because it enables every officer on patrol to have at his or her fingertips a database of over 11 million records that can be tapped into 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition, the President has taken action to end what had essentially become a "freeze" on rigorous, non-partisan research into gun violence – and effective strategies for its prevention – by the Centers for Disease Control. He has instructed relevant agencies to issue guidance making clear that, under current law, doctors are not prohibited from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement. He’s directed agencies to finalize regulations, under the Affordable Care Act, that will increase access to mental health services for all who need them. And he has asked Administration leaders at every level to work alongside school districts and community officials to develop plans to make schools, institutions of higher learning, and houses of worship safer.
Contrary to what a few have said, all of these actions are consistent with the historical use of executive power. Not one will infringe upon the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and gun owners. And all are essential parts of any serious, comprehensive effort to combat gun violence – and to prevent dangerous people from acquiring, and wreaking havoc with, deadly weapons.
Of course, just as important as translating these proposals into reality – and advancing our robust, national discussion about gun violence prevention – is the need to strengthen existing anti-violence initiatives and support the courageous men and women who routinely risk their lives to keep us safe. To this end, the Justice Department remains fully committed – and I remain determined – to do everything possible to reinforce the "thin blue line" that stands between our people and the criminal element that menaces our communities.
Since 2009, this commitment has led the Department to award more than $3.5 billion to our state and local partners under Byrne-JAG – a grant program that helps agencies and departments across the country close budgetary gaps and gain access to the resources they need. Additional funding streams have been made available through the COPS Hiring Program – which, over the last four years, has awarded more than $1.5 billion to create or protect over 8,000 jobs in local law enforcement. And as we look toward the future, we’re determined to continue making the investments our state and local partners need to build on the progress we’ve established in recent years – and stem the tide of violence against our brave men and women in uniform. That’s why the President’s plan to reduce gun violence calls for $4 billion in COPS Hiring Grants funding to support over 15,000 law enforcement officers.
Through the Department’s Officer Safety Working Group, we’re helping to develop key training and information-sharing platforms to allow officers in the field to better anticipate – and more effectively confront – specific threats in real-time. We’re exploring evidence-based strategies for preventing violent encounters – and helping to make such encounters survivable whenever they do occur. Through innovative programs like VALOR, we’ve disseminated more than 9,000 officer safety toolkits and provided over 5,000 law enforcement officers with tactical training and cutting-edge tools to respond to unpredictable threats – including ambush-style assaults. And thanks to initiatives like the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program – which last year awarded almost $20 million to help more than 4,000 jurisdictions purchase protective equipment – we are, quite simply, helping to save lives – including the lives of at least 13 officers who were saved by vests purchased, in part, with federal funds.
There’s no question that we can all be encouraged by this work – and proud of the results we’ve obtained by working in close partnership with one another. But the reality is that our ability to continue building on this progress will be contingent on Congress adopting a balanced deficit reduction plan – and preventing the untenable reductions that will cut over $1.6 billion from the Justice Department’s budget starting on Friday.
If this so-called "sequester" goes into effect, it will not only curtail the Department’s ability to support our state and local partners, it will have a negative impact on the safety of Americans across the country. Our capacity – to respond to crimes, 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 state and local partners, on our entire justice system, and on the American people – will be profound.
Today, I’d like to join many of the leaders in this room in urging Congressional leaders to act swiftly in ensuring that the Department will continue to have the funding we need to fulfill our critical missions, support essential allies like you, and keep our citizens safe. Despite the breadth and scope of this challenge – and the other obstacles and disagreements that we’ve faced in recent years – it’s clear that our resolve to stand together in reducing gun violence, preventing mass shootings, protecting the American people, and combating threats to law enforcement, is stronger than ever.
But recent achievements must not be stopping points. And this week – as you move through the ambitious agenda before you, and pledge yourselves once more to the difficult work that lies ahead – I want you to know that the National Association of Attorneys General has, and can always expect, my strongest support. It’s an honor to join you today in pledging my personal and professional commitment to continuing the work that must remain our shared purpose and common cause. I am fortunate to count you as partners and colleagues in fulfilling the sacred public trust that has been afforded to each of us. And I look forward to where our efforts can – and surely will – take us in the months and years ahead.
Thank you.
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the National Association of Attorneys General Winter/Spring Meeting
Washington, D.C. ~ Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Thank you, Attorney General Gansler, for those kind words; for your leadership as President of the National Association of Attorneys General; for your service to the State of Maryland; and of course for your friendship over the years. As some of you know, Doug and I once worked together in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. So it’s a special privilege to stand with him today – and a pleasure to be included, once again, in this important annual meeting.
I’d particularly like to welcome this organization’s newest members – the 11 state attorneys general who are participating in this event for the first time. And I’d like to recognize – and thank – all of the good friends and colleagues who are here with us today. Thank you for lending your time, your diverse perspectives, and your immense talents to this Association’s critical work.
Over the past four years, I have been fortunate to work with many of the leaders in this room to confront a range of criminal justice, law enforcement, and national security challenges. Alongside my colleagues and counterparts throughout the Administration – including Vice President Biden, Director Cordray, Comptroller Curry, and Acting Associate Attorney General West, all of whom you’re hearing from this week – we’ve accomplished a great deal by working together across state boundaries and party lines. The Justice Department has benefitted – and, more importantly, the American people have benefitted – from your tireless work, your expert guidance, and your steadfast commitment to doing what’s best for those we’re privileged to serve. And the results of our collaboration speak for themselves.
By helping to strengthen our state and federal criminal justice systems, fighting to expand access to legal services, and advancing critical public safety initiatives and consumer protections, you’ve addressed persistent challenges and improved countless lives. You’ve made crime victims whole again. And you’ve brought assistance – and healing – to troubled areas.
In close partnership with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force, you’ve helped ensure that our approach in identifying and combating fraud targeting consumers, investors, and homeowners, has never been smarter, more systematic, or more effective. Last January, many of you joined with the Justice Department and other partners to bring about the largest joint federal-state residential mortgage settlement in our nation’s history. Since 2009, a number of you also have provided invaluable assistance to the federal investigation into alleged misconduct by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services – behavior that goes to the heart of the recent economic crisis. And no less than 13 of you are moving forward with parallel actions complementing the Department’s civil lawsuit, which I announced earlier this month.
From protecting our national security, to preventing domestic violence, eradicating human trafficking, cracking down on intellectual property crimes, and combating youth violence – my colleagues and I have been proud, and fortunate, to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you all. Together, we’ve streamlined key investigative and enforcement activities across multiple agencies and offices – enabling leaders at every level of government to make the most of precious taxpayer resources. As a result, there can be no question that we’re making a meaningful, measurable difference in the lives of our fellow citizens each and every day.
Yet I recognize – as you do – that, for all we’ve accomplished, our work is far from over. When it comes to protecting the safety, and the sacred rights, of the American people, much remains to be done. In too many places, serious – and seemingly intractable – public safety challenges persist. And nowhere is this clearer than in our ongoing efforts to eradicate the gun violence that touches every jurisdiction represented here – and steals too many promising futures each year.
Last December’s horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut stand as shocking reminders of the epidemic that afflicts communities across the country – from inner cities, to rural areas, to tribal lands. But, on a daily basis, this unspeakable tragedy is compounded by countless individual tragedies that take place on our streets; that pass too often unnoticed; and that too frequently decimate the lives of our most vulnerable citizens: our children.
Every loss is shattering and inexplicable – and every one is an outrage. This is why – as concerned citizens, as heartbroken parents, and as public servants empowered to make a difference on behalf of those we’ve sworn to protect – it’s time for each of us to steel our resolve, and renew our commitment to respond to this senseless violence with renewed vigilance.
At every level of the Administration – and particularly at our nation’s Department of Justice – my colleagues and I are determined to work with organizations like this one to build bipartisan consensus for taking decisive action to end gun violence. And we will not rest until we’ve done everything in our power to prevent future tragedies like the one that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Of course, there will never be a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for addressing any challenge of this magnitude – and confronting all of its underlying causes. But we must not allow the size or complexity of this problem to deter us from taking action.
Earlier this year, under the leadership of Vice President Biden, I had the privilege of working with my fellow Cabinet members to assemble a series of common-sense recommendations for keeping guns from falling into the wrong hands, keeping our young people safe, and keeping our neighborhoods and schools more secure. This comprehensive plan – which President Obama announced last month – is founded on a consensus that emerged from the discussions we convened with representatives of more than 200 groups of policymakers, anti-violence advocates, gun owners and retailers, private organizations, police chiefs, and victims of gun crimes. And every step forward is predicated on the principle that President Obama laid out in the weeks after the Newtown tragedy: that "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."
This obligation has driven the Administration to call on Congress to adopt legislation to require "universal" background checks, so that a full background check is performed every time someone attempts to buy a gun; to impose tough new penalties on gun traffickers who help funnel deadly weapons to dangerous criminals; and to pass a ban on high-capacity magazines and military-style assault weapons, updated and stronger than the legislation enacted in 1994.
Beyond these proposals, agencies across the Administration are currently working to implement the 23 executive actions that President Obama announced in order to provide federal officials – and state leaders like you – with the tools and information we need to keep our citizens safe. For instance, we’ve begun encouraging private sellers to work with licensed gun dealers to run their transactions through the NICS background system – something that many already do on a regular basis, and that more can begin to do starting immediately. We’re moving to strengthen this critical tool by addressing gaps, making certain that the information included in the system is complete and accurate, and examining our laws to ensure they are effective when it comes to identifying those who should not have access to firearms.
We welcome your support for this important work. In ensuring that the NICS background check database is as complete as possible, state records are the lifeblood of the system. And I urge each of you to encourage law enforcement agencies in your state to make the most of the National Crime Information Center by both supplying – and then accessing – pertinent crime data. NCIC helps local law enforcement perform their work more safely – because it enables every officer on patrol to have at his or her fingertips a database of over 11 million records that can be tapped into 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In addition, the President has taken action to end what had essentially become a "freeze" on rigorous, non-partisan research into gun violence – and effective strategies for its prevention – by the Centers for Disease Control. He has instructed relevant agencies to issue guidance making clear that, under current law, doctors are not prohibited from reporting threats of violence to law enforcement. He’s directed agencies to finalize regulations, under the Affordable Care Act, that will increase access to mental health services for all who need them. And he has asked Administration leaders at every level to work alongside school districts and community officials to develop plans to make schools, institutions of higher learning, and houses of worship safer.
Contrary to what a few have said, all of these actions are consistent with the historical use of executive power. Not one will infringe upon the Constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and gun owners. And all are essential parts of any serious, comprehensive effort to combat gun violence – and to prevent dangerous people from acquiring, and wreaking havoc with, deadly weapons.
Of course, just as important as translating these proposals into reality – and advancing our robust, national discussion about gun violence prevention – is the need to strengthen existing anti-violence initiatives and support the courageous men and women who routinely risk their lives to keep us safe. To this end, the Justice Department remains fully committed – and I remain determined – to do everything possible to reinforce the "thin blue line" that stands between our people and the criminal element that menaces our communities.
Since 2009, this commitment has led the Department to award more than $3.5 billion to our state and local partners under Byrne-JAG – a grant program that helps agencies and departments across the country close budgetary gaps and gain access to the resources they need. Additional funding streams have been made available through the COPS Hiring Program – which, over the last four years, has awarded more than $1.5 billion to create or protect over 8,000 jobs in local law enforcement. And as we look toward the future, we’re determined to continue making the investments our state and local partners need to build on the progress we’ve established in recent years – and stem the tide of violence against our brave men and women in uniform. That’s why the President’s plan to reduce gun violence calls for $4 billion in COPS Hiring Grants funding to support over 15,000 law enforcement officers.
Through the Department’s Officer Safety Working Group, we’re helping to develop key training and information-sharing platforms to allow officers in the field to better anticipate – and more effectively confront – specific threats in real-time. We’re exploring evidence-based strategies for preventing violent encounters – and helping to make such encounters survivable whenever they do occur. Through innovative programs like VALOR, we’ve disseminated more than 9,000 officer safety toolkits and provided over 5,000 law enforcement officers with tactical training and cutting-edge tools to respond to unpredictable threats – including ambush-style assaults. And thanks to initiatives like the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program – which last year awarded almost $20 million to help more than 4,000 jurisdictions purchase protective equipment – we are, quite simply, helping to save lives – including the lives of at least 13 officers who were saved by vests purchased, in part, with federal funds.
There’s no question that we can all be encouraged by this work – and proud of the results we’ve obtained by working in close partnership with one another. But the reality is that our ability to continue building on this progress will be contingent on Congress adopting a balanced deficit reduction plan – and preventing the untenable reductions that will cut over $1.6 billion from the Justice Department’s budget starting on Friday.
If this so-called "sequester" goes into effect, it will not only curtail the Department’s ability to support our state and local partners, it will have a negative impact on the safety of Americans across the country. Our capacity – to respond to crimes, 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 state and local partners, on our entire justice system, and on the American people – will be profound.
Today, I’d like to join many of the leaders in this room in urging Congressional leaders to act swiftly in ensuring that the Department will continue to have the funding we need to fulfill our critical missions, support essential allies like you, and keep our citizens safe. Despite the breadth and scope of this challenge – and the other obstacles and disagreements that we’ve faced in recent years – it’s clear that our resolve to stand together in reducing gun violence, preventing mass shootings, protecting the American people, and combating threats to law enforcement, is stronger than ever.
But recent achievements must not be stopping points. And this week – as you move through the ambitious agenda before you, and pledge yourselves once more to the difficult work that lies ahead – I want you to know that the National Association of Attorneys General has, and can always expect, my strongest support. It’s an honor to join you today in pledging my personal and professional commitment to continuing the work that must remain our shared purpose and common cause. I am fortunate to count you as partners and colleagues in fulfilling the sacred public trust that has been afforded to each of us. And I look forward to where our efforts can – and surely will – take us in the months and years ahead.
Thank you.
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