Speech/Statement

U.S. Rep. Michael A. Arcuri (NY-24)
In the House of Representatives
 Floor Speech – U.S. Attorneys
March 21, 2007

 Mr. Speaker, Democrats made a promise last November to bring accountability back to Congress and the federal government.  In just a few short months, we have conducted thorough and meaningful oversight on a series of issues that would have been swept under the rug by the previous Republican leadership, which sadly was often more concerned with protecting the Administration than doing the right thing.

 Earlier this week, the Justice Department – at the request of Congressional Democrats – released thousands of pages of emails and internal documents related to the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys by the Administration.

 The documents indicate that the Administration’s contention that the attorneys were dismissed for “performance-related” reasons is simply not true.

 Now Congressional Democrats are seeking to attain the rest of the story by asking senior White House officials involved in the U.S. Attorney scandal to testify under oath.  Unfortunately, the Administration does not want to comply and provide the American people with the facts.
 
 As a former elected District Attorney, I know how critically important it is for prosecutors to be independent and perform their jobs without the fear of retaliatory firings.

 It is time for this Administration to do the right thing and hold those responsible for this scandal accountable for their actions. 

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