John Culberson: “The gentleman from New York is prepared to withdraw the amendment. We will work together to resolve this problem, so I…”

“The gentleman from New York is prepared to withdraw the amendment. We will work together to resolve this problem, so I do claim the time in opposition. I think the gentleman from New York has raised a very valid concern. Certainly we do not want to see any exception to the attorney-client privilege. It can't be limited to just those circumstances where an attorney is actually present with the individual interviewing him at the facility. I think the gentleman has identified a legitimate problem that we need to address. As I discussed with Mr. Jeffries earlier, we got the language very late, and I want to be certain that we are not creating any unanticipated problems. Mr. Jeffries wants to be sure to exclude the very reasonable exception in current law that if a court order, on a finding of a judge, sees that there is potential or reasonable cause for concern that there may be furtherance of a terrorist plot in the course of those communications between an attorney and a client, the Department of Justice would have the right under that court order to listen to that conversation. We want to make sure that we protect that exception but make sure we take care of the one he has identified, so if I could, with my colleague from Philadelphia Mr. Jeffries' help, we appreciate, as we just discussed earlier, if he would withdraw this amendment.…”