Patrick Leahy

I believe that accountability is important and that access to the courts for those alleging wrongdoing by the Government is crucial.

If that happens in a democracy it can be almost a fatal blow to democracy.

That struck a devastating blow to the credibility of Federal law enforcement and undermined the people's faith in our system of justice.

The political manipulation that had occurred previously with the Department of Justice, particularly its law enforcement and civil rights functions.

To restore the Department of Justice back to being the Department of Justice.

The Lindsay Ann Burke Act, I agree with Senator Whitehouse, is a great achievement, the education that is necessary.

The things you have described should never happen to any victim.

There has been a concern about the lack of communication between U.S. Attorney's Offices and Indian tribes regarding declinations

We cannot afford to turn our backs on women and families in need of protection.

I advocated for increased funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for important VAWA programs.

Domestic violence is a crime. We should never forget that: Domestic violence is a crime.

Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act, or VAWA, has been the centerpiece of the Federal Government's commitment to combating domestic violence and other violent crimes against women.

Lord knows there is enough things that are going through a victim's mind to begin with, but that is one that might be eliminated.

We should be doing at the Federal Government level? Obviously, the State governments have their own programs, but are things that we should be doing?

I am glad you asked that question.

We have made some remarkable progress in recognizing that domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence are crimes.

It is interesting that it passed with very strong bipartisan support.

Has that affected, increased or decreased or in any way affected the need for the services that we have in VAWA?

We have a serious economic crisis in this country.

It would have been very easy for you and your husband to just say that is it, we have had a tragedy, we are shutting off the rest of the world. But, instead, you are helping people.

This is something we both strongly believe in, not only for being able to go on the regimen of medication that you talked about, but to be able to avoid it if it is unnecessary and for the peace of mind.

Times change. I was mentioning to others earlier, when I was a prosecutor we did not have any of these programs

It does not make any difference whether it is a family member, a current or past spouse, a boyfriend or girlfriend, an acquaintance or a stranger. It is a crime. It is a crime. It is a crime.

Its passage and reauthorization were a signal achievement in support of the rights of women in America.

The family you have and the contribution to your community are things the Federal Government should protect.