Eric Holder

I think, post-Heller, absolutely. That's one of the things we're dealing with in Washington, DC now.

I think that post-Heller, the options that we have in terms of regulating the possession of firearms has--has been narrowed.

Those are crimes committed a long time ago that, without the perserverence and the conscience that I think this Committee demonstrated, could have been forgotten.

I have never said anything other than that. I appeared before two congressional committees and said nothing but that.

No one is above the law. The President has the constitutional obligation to faithfully execute the laws of the United States.

The Department of Justice first and foremost represents the people of the United States. Not any one President, not any political party, but the people.

These career professionals are not only the backbone of the Department of Justice, they are its soul.

Whatever system we use, it will be consistent with our values; it will be a system that has due process guarantees.

The notion that the Justice Department would ever take into account a person's political affiliation or political beliefs in making hiring decisions is antithetical to everything that the Department stands for.

The tools that we have been given by Congress in FISA are important ones.

Our Justice Department will adhere to the values that have made this Nation great.

I agree with you, Mr. Chairman, waterboarding is torture.

Yes, I think the FISA law, it is a good statute, and it has an exclusivity provision that seems to me to be pretty clear.

The duty of the Justice Department is to defend statutes that have been passed by Congress, unless there is some very compelling reason not to.

There is an exclusivity provision in the FISA Act that essentially says, as Congress has expressed, this is the exclusive way in which that kind of surveillance should occur.

I think one component of it, at least as I understand it--you can correct me if I am wrong--was that for an initial--the first time a person comes across, I don't think they are jailed.

It is my belief that the President does not have the power that you have indicated.

I sent corrupt public officials from both parties to jail.

I understand that. The Supreme Court has spoken.

Heller is the law of the land. It has to be taken into account with regard to any legislation that might be considered.

In the short term, this will not be an easy task with the mainstream media somewhat cowered by conservative critics and the conservative media disseminating the news in anything but a fair and balanced manner.

I have no intention, this administration has no intention, of doing anything that would affect a State's regulation of firearms.

I don't want you to leave here thinking that you have got some press crazy here as potentially Attorney General.

I have dealt with whistleblowers. I don't think that I have ever dealt with a whistleblower who has had a problem with a particular policy.

I will, in response to, I guess, the general assertion, try to do all that we can to make sure that we respond fully.