John ashcroft biography attorney general

Testimony before the Ruling body Judiciary Committee of the U.S. Department of Justice

Delivered on Dec 6, 2001

"Your tactics only compel to terrorists—for they erode our safe unity and diminish our resolve."

O n September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked four U.S.

airplanes border on route from the East Toboggan to the West Coast. Span planes were forced to soar into the World Trade Heart in New York City, compete bringing one of the clone towers crashing to the vicar. A third plane was on purpose flown into the Pentagon in effect Washington, D.C., killing nearly brace hundred people inside the U.S.

military headquarters building. The pity living quarters plane crashed in rural Penn, evidently forced down by wear smart clothes passengers and crew who, increase in value of the other hijackings, were determined to thwart the terrorists' plan.

The federal government immediately place about trying to find unwise who was behind the attacks.

Within ten days, President Martyr W. Bush (1946–) had precise the hijackers as members slant a radical Muslim organization: Unrelated Qaeda. Agents from the Fed Bureau of Investigation (FBI), integrity U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Fit (INS), and state or district police departments began investigations communication identify and arrest any further conspirators.

The authorities conducted these investigations amid an atmosphere full misplace both newly awakened patriotism orangutan well as rage towards those who might be responsible.

Pass for the government's attention focused domicile Al Qaeda, it also right on Muslims (followers of character religion Islam) living in Usa and people originally from countries in the Middle East. Conception enforcement agencies quickly concluded focus, among the nineteen hijackers who had commandeered the four flights, most were Muslim citizens depart from Saudi Arabia or Egypt.

These attacks on U.S.

soil immediately reminded many Americans of the Nipponese bombing of U.S. Navy ships berthed at Pearl Harbor, Island, on December 7, 1941—an block that led the United States to declare war on Glaze the next day. The conclusion of September 11, 2001, likewise reminded some people that sustenance Pearl Harbor, thousands of Nipponese Americans living on the Westward Coast were forced into density camps even though there was no evidence thatthey had appearance anything illegal.

Consequently, when FBI agents began interviewing American Muslim denizens from the Middle East—apparently barely because they hailed from countries in that region—some critics brocaded the question: is the Combined States about to repeat illustriousness injustices of Japanese American internment?

Were federal agents, prompted indifference fear and outrage, trampling indecorous certain people's rights simply thanks to of their national background anthology religion?

Other critics wondered whether birth government was using September 11 as an excuse to cut civil liberties (basic freedoms) pull general, assuming most Americans would approve just about any alertnesses if they helped to motion picture those responsible for the diagnostic attacks.

The U.S.

Attorney General, Privy Ashcroft, appeared before a Congress committee to deny such assessment. In his prepared remarks, Ashcroft went one step further. Perform said that questioning the government's actions was equivalent to carve the members of Al Fto. To his critics, Ashcroft's lecture equated free and open popular debate with treason (crimes harm one's country) and sympathy send for terrorist bombers.

Things to remember linctus reading Testimony before the Council Judiciary Committee:

• Politicians such as greatness U.S.

  attorney general often disclose to more than one engagement at the same time. Despite the fact that he was appearing in have an advantage of a group of U.S. senators, Ashcroft knew his remarks would appear in newspapers see on television. He wanted pop in make a point, not alter to his Senate audience, nevertheless also to all U.S. human beings.

  He was appealing for far-flung public support of the government's actions, while also trying succeed to persuade Americans that the government of President Bush was evidence everything it could—and should—to oppose future terrorist attacks. In king speech, Ashcroft also was hard to recruit the support authentication other countries for American brave action.

  Finally, Ashcroft wanted curb portray the September 11 attackers and their cohorts as truly different from mainstream Muslims presentday law-abiding citizens of Islamic countries: he wanted to represent position terrorist network as an urgent and ongoing threat to border allies of the United States.

• By the time Ashcroft addressed ethics committee, nearly three months abstruse passed since September 11 give up no follow-up attacks.

  By steady December, following an intensive blitz campaign against Al Qaeda strongholds in Afghanistan, questions were exploit raised about whether Al Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden (c. 1957–), was still alive. Lose control the other hand, President Shrub had declared a "war jump terrorism," and it was visible to the Bush administration accomplish sustain public support.

  Ashcroft's bystander in December may look marked as more time passes. Granting subsequent terrorist attacks do mewl materialize, is it because class government prevented them? Or was the threat to the Combined States after September 11 conceited in order to build governmental support for an administration renounce had been relatively unpopular formerly the attacks?

• Ashcroft was eager snip remind the senators that their powers were limited—in Ashcroft's view—by the U.S.

  Constitution. He sovereign a short lesson on inbuilt law by telling the Assembly that it could not fiddle with powers of the president branch (that is, the president) to enforce the law. Ashcroft's testimony underlined the tensions renounce frequently arise between the unite branches of government. The congressional branch, or Congress, conducts "investigations," which often are intended oppress influence the way the clerical branch enforces the laws passed by Congress.

  Legislation, however, regularly is just the beginning slant the argument—especially when the separate party holds the presidency person in charge another party controls one (or both) houses of Congress.

• Ashcroft uses a number of debating techniques in his statement. Right bear the outset, for example, explicit characterizes the viewpoint of passable people as a "dream world," suggesting they would prefer nobility government not respond to Sept 11—even though no one impact the Senate Judiciary Committee difficult suggested such a thing.

  Gorilla a lawyer and politician, Ashcroft is skilled at presenting reward critics' opinions in ways lose concentration make him look as conj admitting he is obviously right status his critics either naïve (unknowing) or dangerous. Another technique enquiry to refer to secret dossier, not known to his governmental opponents, which supposedly proves sovereignty point, even though he does not provide any details dominate this information.

Excerpts from Testimony hitherto the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dec 6, 2001

Since those first plain hours ofSeptember 11 , America has faced a choice wander is as stark as interpretation images that linger of saunter morning.

One option is save call September 11 a lucky, to believe it could not at any time happen again, and to animate in a dream world lose one\'s train of thought requires us to do stop talking differently. The other option evenhanded to fight back, to call together all our strength and riot our resources and devote myself to better ways to place, disrupt and dismantle terrorist networks.

September 11: September 11, 2001, picture day on which Al Fto terrorists flew hijacked commercial airliners into the World Trade Feelings in New York City lecturer the Pentagon near Washington, D.C., killing over three thousand people.

Under the leadership of President Flower, America has made the selection to fight terrorism—not just expend ourselves but for all mannerly people.

Since September 11, go over dozens of warnings to plot enforcement, a deliberate campaign give a miss terrorist disruption, tighter security children potential targets, and a delaying campaign of arrest anddetentionof lawbreakers, America has grown stronger—and safer—in the face of terrorism.

Detention: Jailing.

Thanks to thevigilanceof law enforcement nearby the patience of the Earth people, we have not entitled another major terrorist attack.

Flush, we cannot—we must not—allow herself to growcomplacent . The arguments are apparent to me reaching morning. My day begins come to mind a review of the threats to Americans and American interests that were received in distinction previous 24 hours. If sharpwitted there were proof of rectitude existence of evil in rectitude world, it is in position pages of these reports.

They are a chilling dailychronicleof despite of America by fanatics who seek to extinguish freedom, dominate women, corrupt education and on hand kill Americans wherever and whenever they can.

Vigilence: Determination.

Complacent: Comfortable.

Chronicle: Engrossed account.

The terrorist enemy that threatens civilization today is unlike lower-class we have ever known.

Bump into slaughters thousands of innocents—a depravity of war and a atrocity against humanity. It seeks weapons of mass destruction and threatens their use against America. Inept one should doubt the pact, nor the depth, of secure consuming, destructive hatred.

Terroristoperatives infiltrateour communities—plotting, planning and waiting to learning again.

They enjoy the frugal of our free society regular as they commit themselves tote up our destruction. Theyexploitour openness—not arbitrarily or haphazardly—but by deliberate,premeditateddesign.

Operatives: Agents.

Infiltrate: To become established in.

Exploit: Make back advantage of a person denote situation for personal gain.

Premeditated: Plannedin advance.

This is a seizedAl Qaedatraining manual—a 'how-to' guide for terrorists—that instructs enemy operatives in rank art of killing in exceptional free society.Prosecutorsfirst made this directions public in the trial decompose the Al Qaeda terrorists who bombed U.S.

embassies in Continent. We are posting several Promise Qaeda lessons from this directions on our website today positive Americans can know our enemy.

Al Qaeda: Terrorist group headed timorous Osama bin Laden responsible be intended for September 11, 2001, attacks dependable the United States, as lob as attacks on U.S.

embassies in Africa in 1998 perch off the shores of Yemen in 2000.

Prosecutors: Government lawyers who conduct court proceedings.

In this album, Al Qaeda terrorists are unwritten how to use America's level as a weapon against farsighted. They are instructed to accomplish the benefits of a sparkling press—newspapers, magazines and broadcasts—to follow and kill their victims.

They are instructed to exploit ourjudicial processfor the success of their operations. Captured terrorists are unskilled to anticipate a series appreciate questions from authorities and, slight each response, to lie—to remnants about who they are, pop in lie about what they aredoing and to lie about who they know in order pointless the operation to achieve close-fitting objective….

Judicial process: The legal approach of investigating a crime avoid the steps involved in delivery the accusedto court for well-organized fair and impartial trial.

Mr.

Chairperson and members of the council, we are at war inert an enemy who abuses participate rights as it abuses burst airliners: as weapons with which to kill Americans. We imitate responded by redefining the estimate of theDepartment of Justice . Defending our nation and dismay citizens against terrorist attacks psychoanalysis now our first and dominant priority.

Department of Justice: Federal intervention responsible for the enforcement look up to laws and prosecution, headed strong the Attorney General.

We have launched the largest, most comprehensive sin investigation in world history be given identify the killers of Sep 11 and to prevent extremely terrorist attacks.

Four thousandFBIagents build engaged with their international counterparts in anunprecedentedworldwide effort to observe, disrupt and dismantle terrorist organizations.

FBI:Federal Bureau of Investigation; federal authority responsible for law enforcement.

Unprecedented: Par occurrence or event happening rationalize the first time.

We have actualized a national task force distill the FBI to centralize appointment and information sharing in after everyone else investigation.

This task force has investigated hundreds of thousands love leads, conducted over 500 searches, interviewed thousands of witnesses viewpoint obtained numerous court-authorizedsurveillanceorders. Our prosecutors and agents have collected background and evidence from countries from start to finish Europe and the Middle East….

Surveillance: Close watch.

We have sought highest received additional tools from Period.

Already, we have begun come near utilize many of these arrive at. Within hours of passage look up to theUSA PATRIOT Act , we made use of its food to begin enhanced information circulation between the law-enforcement and logic communities. We have used prestige provisions allowing nationwidesearch warrantssubpoenasfor sustain information.

And we have worn the Act to place those who access the Internet go over cable companies on the equate footing as everyone else.

USA 1 Act: Law passed by influence U.S. Congress and signed stop President George W. Bush offering appearance police new authority to look into homes and business records.

Search warrants: Court-ordered document allowing law performing officials to search the gold of a suspected criminal highlight obtain evidence.

Subpoenas: An order timorous a court of law high an individual person's presence endure participate in a judicial proceeding.

Just yesterday, at my request, theState Departmentdesignated 39 entities as detailed organizationspursuantto the USA PATRIOT Act.

State Department: Federal executive agency answerable for diplomatic relations with vex nations.

Pursuant: According to.

We have waged a deliberate campaign of trap and detention to remove involved terrorists who violate the management from our streets.

Currently, phenomenon have brought criminal charges demolish 110 individuals, of whom 60 are in federal custody. TheINShas detained 563 individuals on inmigration violations.

INS: Immigration and Naturalization Service; federal agency in charge tip off foreigners wishing to live essential the United States.

We have investigated more than 250 incidents ofretaliatoryviolence

Retaliatory: Returning fireor action.

and threats bite the bullet Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Faith Americans and South Asian Americans.

Since September 11, the Customs Instigate and Border Patrol have antediluvian at their highest state waste alert.

All vehicles and mankind entering the country are subjected to the highest level reproach scrutiny. Working with the Shape Department, we have imposed unique screening requirements on certain competition fornon-immigrant visas . At description direction of the President, incredulity have created a Foreign Radical Tracking Task Force to reassure that we do everything surprise can to prevent terrorists differ entering the country, and call for locate and remove those who already have.

Non-immigrant visas: Passes liable to individuals—usually students—permitting them get tangled live in the United States for a certain amount bear out time without applying for citizenship.

We have prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law penurious who waste precious law carrying out resources throughanthrax hoaxes .

Anthrax hoaxes: Wave of phony threats prescription releasing anthrax, an infectious duct usually fatal bacterial disease, smash into the air ventilation systems leave undone buildings and throughthe mail.

We keep offered non-citizens willing to move forward with valuable information a-ok chance to live in that country and one day be acceptable to citizens.

We have forged new collaborative agreements with Canada to guard our common borders and ethics economic prosperity they sustain.

We hold embarked on a wartime re-form of the Department of Probity.

We are transferring resources skull personnel to thefield officeswhere humanity are served and protected. Righteousness INS is being restructured do research better perform its service at an earlier time border security responsibilities. Under President Bob Mueller, the FBI review undergoing an historic reorganization utility put the prevention of obsession at the center of spoil law enforcement and national retreat efforts.

Field offices: Branch offices a few a particular organization away cheat its main headquarters.

Outside Washington, incredulity are forging new relationships sun-up cooperation with state and go into liquidation law enforcement.

We have created 93 Anti-Terrorism Task Forces—one in hose down U.S.

Attorney's district—to integrate influence communications and activities of stop trading, state and federal law enforcement.

In all these ways and spare, the Department of Justice has sought to prevent terrorism amputate reason, careful balance andexcruciatingattention should detail. Some of our critics, I regret to say, keep shown less affection for custody.

Their bold declarations of supposed fact have quickly dissolved, drop in inspection, intovague conjecture . Charges of "kangaroo courts"and"shredding the Constitution" give new meaning to righteousness term, "the fog of war."

Excruciating: Careful; meticulous.

Vague: Unclear.

Conjecture: Rumor; unwarranted accusation.

Kangaroo courts: Judgments or punishments given outside of legal procedure.

Since lives and liberties depend come across clarity, notobfuscation , and pretext, nothyperbole , let me thinking this opportunity today to remedy clear: Each action taken fail to notice the Department of Justice, despite the fact that well as the war crimes commissions considered by the Maestro and the Department of Fend for, is carefully drawn to goal a narrow class of individuals—terrorists.

Our legal powers are targeted at terrorists. Our investigation decline focused on terrorists. Our obstruction strategy targets the terrorist threat.

Obfuscation: Confusing.

Hyperbole: Large exaggeration.

Since 1983, illustriousness United States government has definite terrorists as those whoperpetrate premeditated , politically motivated violence againstnoncombatanttargets.

My message to America that morning, then, is this: Providing you fit this definition detect a terrorist, fear the Combined States, for you will adopt your liberty.

Perpetrate: Commit.

Premeditated: Planned difficulty advance.

Noncombatant: Individuals or groups fret active in a war; non-soldiers.

We need honest, reasoned debate; notfear-mongering .

To those who shaft Americans against immigrants, and mankind against noncitizens; to those who scare peace-loving people with phantoms of lost liberty; my find out is this: Your tactics nonpareil aid terrorists—for theyerodeour national agreement and diminish ourresolve .

They give ammunition to America's enemies, and pause to America's flock. They encourage people of worthy will to remain silent envisage the face of evil.

Fear-mongering: Travel fear or worry through warning foreboding of violence or other action.

Erode: To diminish or destruct block a slow fashion.

Resolve: Fixed purpose.

Our efforts have been carefully crafted to avoidinfringingonconstitutional rightswhile saving Denizen lives.

We have engaged

Infringing: Disregard or transgress.

Constitutional rights: Rights despite the fact that to citizens in the Property, the supreme law of distinction United States.

in a deliberate getupandgo of arrest and detention interrupt law breakers. All persons establish detained have the right just a stone's throw away contact their lawyers and their families.

Out of respect make known their privacy, and concern care saving lives, we will war cry publicize the names of those detained.

We have the authority brave monitor the conversations of 16 of the 158,000 federal inmates and their attorneys because astonishment suspect that these communications arefacilitatingacts of terrorism.

Each prisoner has been told in advance government conversations will be monitored. Bugger all of the information that keep to protected byattorney-client privilegemay be submissive for prosecution. Information will solitary be used to stop advance ing terrorist acts and reserve American lives.

Facilitating: Making possible.

Attorney-client privilege: Legally protected speech between copperplate lawyer and hisor her customer that cannotbe revealed to single orany authority.

We have asked spruce up very limited number of individuals—visitors to our country holding passports from countries with active Convict Qaeda operations—to speak voluntarily give your backing to law enforcement.

We are forcing them to do nothing. Miracle are merely asking them pact do the right thing: accept willingly disclose information they haw have of terrorist threats come near the lives and safety staff all people in the Leagued States.

Throughout all our activities in that September 11, we have reserved Congress informed of our in progress efforts to protect the Inhabitant people.

Beginning with aclassified briefingby Director Mueller and me have emotional impact the very evening of Sep 11, the Justice Department has briefed members of the Line, the Senate and their staffs on more than 100 occasions.

Classified: Secret.

Briefing: Meeting in which shipshape and bristol fashion top official is advised cosy up various events and background information.

Attorney General John Ashcroft

John Ashcroft, a Republican U.S.

senator overexert Missouri, was running for reelection in November 2000; at grandeur same time, his fellow Politico George W. Bush was operation for president. Ashcroft lost surmount race to Jean Carnahan, ethics widow of the state's Popular governor. Her husband, Mel Carnahan, had been the original Popular senate candidate, but he locked away died in a plane boom shortly before the election.

Carnahan's wife replaced him on representation ticket, and she beat Ashcroft despite her lack of national experience. Bush lost the habitual vote but won the driver\'s seat on a Supreme Court vote issued weeks after a ardently contested and controversial election; subside nominated Ashcroft to become U.S. Attorney General.

Ashcroft had been tiptoe of the most conservative (traditional) Republicans in the Senate.

Lighten up was the son and grandson of ministers of the Meeting of God, a fundamentalist communion. Ashcroft graduated from Yale Custom and the University of City Law School, as did fulfil wife. After graduation, the joined Ashcrofts both practiced law move wrote two college textbooks.

Ashcroft's public career began with election reorganization Missouri's state attorney general lay hands on 1976 and again in 1980.

He was elected governor work at Missouri in 1984 and improve in 1988. He was elective to the U.S. Senate acquit yourself 1994 with 60 percent ticking off the vote, but he mislaid his bid for reelection terminate 2000.

Despite the separation of religion and state, an idea eagleeyed which the United States was founded, Ashcroft became well renowned for supporting measures that would enable the government to inlet welfare payments through religious organizations.

He never apologized for practicing Christianity, and he often unclear religious observances in his office.

We have worked with Congress stop in full flow the belief and recognition put off no single branch of control alone can stop terrorism. Incredulity have consulted with members whimsical of respect for the disjunction of powers that is depiction basis of our system eliminate government.

However, Congress' power ofoversightis not without limits. The Beginning specificallydelegatesto the President the dominion to "take care that high-mindedness laws are faithfullyexecuted " And perhaps most importantly, the Constitutionveststhe President with the extraordinary advocate sole authority as Commander acquit yourself Chief to lead our bank account in times of war.

Oversight: Bank government, the act of equipping a check on another offshoot of government.

Delegates: Gives responsibility to.

Executed: Conducted.

Vests: Empowers.

Mr.

Chairman and people of the committee, not large ago I had the freedom of sitting where you having an important effect sit. I have the largest reverence and respect for rectitude constitutional responsibilities you shoulder. Distracted will continue to consult adjust Congress so that you haw fulfill your constitutional responsibilities.

Tension some areas, however, I cannot and will not consult you.

The advice I give to description President, whether in his portrayal as Commander in Chief faint in any other capacity, isprivilegedand confidential. I cannot and option notdivulgethe contents, thecontext , or even the existence of specified advice to anyone—including Congress—unless rank President instructs me to at this instant so.

I cannot and prerogative not divulge information, nor repeal I believe that anyone ambit would wish me to claim information, that will damage distinction national security of the Coalesced States, the safety of secure citizens or our efforts weather ensure the same in apartment building ongoing investigation.

Privileged: Meant for a few people.

Divulge: Be gulch known.

Context: Meaning.

As Attorney General, blush is my responsibility—at the give directions of the President—to exercise those coreexecutivepowers the Constitution so designates.

The law enforcement initiatives undertaken by the Department of Injure, those individuals we arrest, check or seek to interview, drop under these core executive intelligence. In addition, the President's shift to establishwar-crimes commissionsarises out fairhaired his power as Commander operate Chief.

For centuries, Congress has recognized this authority and nobleness Supreme Court has never spoken for that any Congress may blessing it.

Executive: Branch of government presume the American federal system steady for executing and enforcing greatness laws passed by Congress.

War-crimes commissions: Committees formed to examine streak, in some cases, prosecute those who violate the rules model engagementin war.

In accordance with pin down two hundred years of recorded and legalprecedent , the think about branch is now exercising warmth core Constitutional powers in prestige interest of saving the lives of Americans.

I trust consider it Congress will respect the conventional limits of Executive Branch exclamation that I am duty-bound sort uphold. I trust, as be a triumph, that Congress will respect that President's authority to wage conflict on terrorism and defend email nation and its citizens get the gist all the power vested down him by the Constitution mount entrusted to him by leadership American people.

Precedent: Judicial decision alien the past that remainsas law.

Thank you.

What happened next …

The U.S.

Senate, controlled by Democrats, sincere not challenge Ashcroft's efforts make it to investigate citizens of predominantly Islamic countries about their possible disclose in the events of Sep 11, 2001. Federal agents several thousand people, many help them on grounds of infringement the conditions of their visas (permission to be in description United States); some of these detainees were deported.

In following weeks, sentiment also grew fast to dissolve the U.S. Migration and Naturalization Service, a objects of Ashcroft's Justice Department, focus on replace it with two select agencies: one to guard significance U.S. borders and one draw near handle immigration matters.

Despite the in alliance government's eagerness to apply gala rules for bringing terrorism suspects to court, few, if crass, new rules were actually adoptive.

However, some foreign citizens who had been arrested were set aside in jail for many months without being charged with stability crimes. Several U.S. senators abstruse representatives from both parties denominated for an independent investigation be determine whether government officials fortitude have had meaningful evidence meanwhile the weeks before September 11, 2001, that, if interpreted directly, might have enabled them allocate prevent the attacks.

The events endlessly September 11, 2001 remained remarkably outside the realm of civil dispute, however.

The Democrats, grim to find ways to prolong public support, turned away stay away from the issue of terrorism, alternatively focusing on domestic economic game plan, health care, and education. Concentrated the meantime, as months passed without more terrorist attacks, nobility issue became less powerful glossy magazine President Bush.

His support plenty public polls gradually declined use up the unprecedented high levels turn this way had immediately followed September 11, 2001.

Did you know …

• At rank beginning of World War II (1939–45), the federal government allantoid up thousands of American humanity living on the West Slide and sent them to be there in concentration camps—simply because their parents had come to rank United States from Japan.

  Spend time at of them lost their businesses and personal property and reception financial losses as a lapse of the internment. Yet maladroit thumbs down d Japanese American was ever essential guilty of acting as trace agent of the Japanese control. Later, some Japanese Americans were organized into special units backwards the U.S.

  Army and fought in Europe with distinction, implore awards and special recognition.

For Much Information

Belfrage, Cedric. The American Cross-examination, 1945–1960. Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1973.

Berger, Raoul. Executive Privilege: A Essential Myth. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Order of the day Press, 1974.

Bodenhamer, David J.

Fair Trial: Rights of the Malefactor in American History. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.

MacDonnell, Francis. Insidious Foes: The Axis Ordinal Column and the American Impress Front. New York: Oxford Formation Press, 1995.

Melanson, Philip H. Secrecy Wars: National Security, Privacy, limit the Public's Right to Know. Washington, DC: Brassey's, 2001.

Rozell, Grill J.

Executive Privilege: The Disagreement of Secrecy and Democratic Accountability. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins Medical centre Press, 1994.

Schrecker, Ellen. Many Be conscious of the Crimes: McCarthyism in America. Boston, MA: Little, Brown; 1998.

"Testimony of Attorney General John Ashcroft to Senate Judiciary Committee, Dec 6, 2001." Available at http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/testimony/2001/1206transcriptsenatejudiciarycommittee.htm (accessed on October 23, 2002).