Patrick Leahy: “soon after we return in January, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin consideration of the nomination of Alberto…”

“soon after we return in January, the Senate Judiciary Committee will begin consideration of the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for the position of Attorney General of the United States. I met with Judge Gonzales on November 17, soon after his designation as the President's nominee. I had that meeting in preparation for our hearings. I look forward to working with Senator Specter and the other members of the Judiciary Committee to assure a prompt and fair and thorough hearing on this important nomination in early January. There is no secret that Judge Gonzales will be called upon to explain not only his vision of what the role of the Attorney General should be, but also how he would distinguish it from that of the White House Counsel. And he is also going to be asked about the role he has played in formulating the administration's policy on the treatment and interrogation of prisoners in U.S. custody overseas. The scandal of Abu Ghraib, allegations of mistreatment in Guantanamo, investigations and charges from cases in Iraq and Afghanistan are serious matters. There are lingering questions. There is unresolved accountability left in their wake. The Bush administration circled the wagons long ago. It has continually maintained that the abuses were simply the work of a few bad apples. But we know that the photos from Abu Ghraib do not depict an isolated incident.”