U.S. State Attorneys General

I think it's important that we have diversity in the judiciary, just as we should seek diversity in Congress.

Senator Hirono. Can you tell me what led to you creating this special court and how it's working?

Senator Hirono. Thank you very much.

Mr. Gonzales, you are the first U.S. Attorney whose office has a full section focused exclusively on addressing crime in the Native American communities.

As we say in Hawaii, aloha.

Thank you. With your indulgence, I started this hearing by thanking Chairman Leahy and Senator Grassley for scheduling this hearing so that we can fill these vacancies as promptly as possible.

Americans know that increasing debt is the last thing we should be doing.

I want to be really clear as well. I haven't heard any talk on this side of the aisle about default, wanting to default, using default as leverage.

I now yield such time as he may consume to my good friend from California, Congressman Mike Honda.

I now yield such time as she may consume to my friend and colleague from Hawaii, Congresswoman Hanabusa.

I would now like to yield such time as she may consume to my friend from California (Ms. Chu).

I now yield such time as he may consume to my good friend from Alaska, Congressman Don Young.

I would now like to yield as much time as he consumes to my colleague from the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, Kilili Sablan.

It is unconscionable to me that anyone, any American diplomat would be in a situation where their security request would be denied.

Who made these decisions that got four Americans killed?

That is why I gave you guys a back door to walk out of. You weren't decision makers, but somebody was.

Are we really willing to stand up and protect the individual freedoms and liberties of the American people when the die is cast?

To say that we had no warning when clearly there were requests for increased security... represents absolute failure on someone's part.

The problem is that each one comes with a waiver. And the problem with waivers is that invariably they are exercised, and it is that that needs to be stopped.

At what point do we wake up and say, you know what, we are cutting off your allowance.

I have never been able to buy off people who have evil intents by just giving them money. It kind of emboldens them.

I don't think history plays out that way. In fact, I think it is attributed to Einstein that the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

It's worse -- this alternative going past the deadline is worse than -- may be worse than what will happen to Americans with disabilities and our older Americans if I don't stand firm and fight for them at this time.

I will not sacrifice the interests of seniors and low-income, poor Americans with disabilities just to come up with some deal.