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ResponsesofAlbertoR.GonzalesNomineetobeAttorneyGeneraltotheWrittenSupplementalQuestionsofSenatorEdwardM.Kennedy
I.GeneralRequest:
Youranswersrepeatedlystatethatyoudonotrecallcertainkeydiscussionsontorture,thatyoudonotknowwhetherrelevantdocumentsandothermaterialsexist,thatyouhavenotconductedasearchforsuchmaterials,andthatyouwouldrefusetoprovidethembecausetheyinvolve"classifiedinformation,""predecisionaP'or"internaldeliberations,""deliberativematerial,"or"noft'public"opinions.Asyoucertainlyknow,however,thereisnolegalbartoprovidingclassifiedmaterialsoranyoftheothermaterialstoCongress,andsuchmaterialshaveinfadbeenprovidedregularlytoCongressionalcommitteesinnominationandotherproceedings.Youyourselfweredirectly~nvolvedinprovidingsensitiveexecutivematerialstotheIntelligenceCommitteesandthe
9/11
Commission,andanincompleteselectionoftortnre-relateddocumentstothepubliclastJune.TheonlyexceptiontotheobligationtoprovidesuchmaterialsisintherarecasewherethePresidenthimselfdeterminesthathisint~restinsecrecyoutweighsthepublicinterestindisclosureoftheinformationormaterialstoCongressorthepublic,andhehimselfinvokesexecutiveprivilege.Refusaltoprovidetherequestedmaterialsandinformationisinappropriateandunjustifiedinthepresentcircumstances.ItwaSclearatthetimeyouwerenominatedthatyourinvolvementintheprisonerdetentionandinterrogationissueswouldbeamajorconcernoftheSenate,andthattheSenatewouldneedfuOinformationandmaterialsonthissubject.RecentreportsconfirmseriousabusesofdetaineesatseveraJlocations,andyourroleinthedenlopmentofthelegaljustificationsthatmanybelievefacilitatedandencouragedtheseabusesisacentJ"a1issueinthedecisionbytheSenateonwhetheryoushouldbeconfinneda51henation'schidlawenforcementofficer.IthereforerequestthatyoureconsideraUofyouranswersatthehearingandinyourwrittensubmissionsandthatyouprovidethematerialsandinformationrequested.Forexample,inyouranswerto2(a)ofmywrittenquestionstoyou,youdonotdescribeyoursuggestionsoropinionsontheBybeeMemorandum,butyou
indicatethatyouroffice
mayhave
providedcommentsorsuggestededits.Please.
identifyandprovideanymaterialscontainingorreflectingthosecommentsoredits,andanymaterialsreflectingyourknowledgeofthemoryourroleinthem.1
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Pleasedeterminewhetherthereareaudiorecordings,orothertranscriptionsorrecordsofanykind.relatingtoanyofthemeetings,events,discussionsorfactsinquestion.Ifanyoftherequestedorrelevantmaterialsonceexistedbutnolongerexist,pleasedescribewhathappenedtothem.Response:Respectfully,IhaveprovidedagreatdealofjnfoonationthroughtheanswersIprovidedatthedaylonghearingonmyconfmnationandinthenearly450writtenresponsesIpreparedovertheMartinLutherKing,Jr.holidayweekendtopost-hearingquestionsfrommorethanadozendifferentSenators.Inallofmyresponses,Ihaveansweredtruthfully,basedonmyrecolJection.Withrespecttothespecificpointsraisedinyourquestion,Icanreaffinnthat,IinfactcannotrecallwithanyspecificitymanyofthediscussionsinwhichIparticipatedconcerninginteIrogationsofdetainees.Icaningoodfaithtrytoprovideyouageneraldescriptionoftheprocess,oftheissueswithwhichIwasconcerned,andofmyviewsconcerningtheroleofCounseltothePresidentaspartofthatprocess.Ihave,throughmyresponsestoalloftheSenators,attemptedtoprovidesuchinfonnationtotheCommittee.Withrespecttoyourrequestsfordocuments,IhavesincethetimeofmynominationnotbeeninvolvedinrespondingtorequestsfordocumentsthatmayhavebeencreatedduringmytenureasCounseltothePresident.DecisionsregardingthereleaseofWhiteHouseorDepartmentofJusticedocumentstotheCommitteearebeingmadebyotherofficialsattheWhiteHouseandIhaveprovidedallofthedocumentsthatIhavebeenauthorizedtodisclose.Idonotagree,however,thattheonly"theonlyexceptiontotheobligationtoprovide...materials[requestedbyaMemberofCongress]isintherarecasewherethePresidenthimselfdeterminesthathisinterestinsecrecyoutweighsthepublicinterestindisclosureoftheinformationormaterialstoCongressorthepublic,andhehimselfinvokesexecutiveprivilege,"Instead,itisgenerallynotthepracticeofthisorprior'Administrationstoprovidea11documentsrequestedbyaMemberofCongresswherethosedocumentscontainhighlydeliberativeorPresidentialcommunications.Bylongstandingpractice,noclaimofexecutiveprivilegeisnecessarytodeclinetoproducesuchdocumentsinresponsetosucharequest.Itisonthebasisofthispractice,andinlightofthenatureofthedocumentsatissue,thatItmderstandtheWhiteHousehasrespectfullydeclinedtoprovideadditionaldocumentsinadditiontothemanydocumentsithasalreadymadepublicorproducedinresponsetoinquiriesfromSenators.Irespectyourinterestinlearningofmyinvolvementinprisonerdetentionandinterrogationissues,andhaveattemptedtoprovideasmuchinformationasIamabletorecall,identify,andprovide.Withrespect,IrejectthechargethatIparticipatedin..thedevelopmentofthelegaljustifications"that"faciJitatedandencouraged"abusesofdetainees.2
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Inresponsetoyourspecificinquiry,sofarasIamaware,therehaveneverbeenanyaudiorecordingsOJ;ransl;riptionsofanymeetingsinmyofficeconcerningthesetopicsoranyotheIS.II.Follow-upRequestsonSpecificQuestions:Question#1:Discussionsoflnterroe:ationTechniques.Pleaseprovidetbe"requesteddetailsofthemeetings.includingdatesortimeframes,thepersonspresent,andtherecommendations.results.andassignments.Inallanswers.ifyourrecollectionsarenon-specificorincomplete.statewhatyoudorecallResponse:SinceshortlyafterSeptember11,2001untilthepresent,theAdministrationhasbeeninvolvedinconductingtheWaronTerrorbygatheringasmuchinformationfromterroristsaswepossiblycanwithintheboundsofJaw.Duringthattime,Ihaveparticipatedinsevera]meetingsatwhichthepossibleuseofmethodsofquestioningwerediscussed.Thesemeetingsmayhaveincluded,fromtimetotime,representativesfromtheNationalSecurityCounoil,theDepartmentofState,theDepamnentofJustice,theDepartmentofDefense,theCentralIntelligenceAgency,andothers.InthemeetingsIattended,agencies'representativesraisedconcernsthatcertainterroristshadinformationthatmightsaveAmericanlives;theparticipantssharedadesiretoexplorewhetherthereexistedmethodsofquestioningtheseten-oriststhatmightelicitthatinformation;anditwasalwaysveryclearthatwewouldimplementsuchmethodsonlywithintheboundsofthelaw.AsCounseltothePresident,myconstantemphasisandinterestwasonthelastfactor-ensuringcompliancewiththelaw.ItwouldnothavebeenappropriateformetocommentoniSSUC5uchaswhetheraparticularindividualmayhaveinfonnationthatwouldbehelpfultotheefforttosaveAmericanlivesordefeatterrorists,orwhetheracertainprocedureforquestioningthatindividualwouldbeeffectiveinelicitingthatinformation.Otherswithmorerelevantexperience,expertise,andinfonnationwereresponsibleformakingthoseju.dgments.Instead,itwasmyresponsibilitytoensurethatanymethodtheydeemedappropriateandeffectivefromanoperationalpointofviewwasconside{CdlawfulbytheDepartmentofJUStice.TotheextentIwasinvolvedinrecommendations,results,andassignmentsarisingoutofsuchmeetings,myactivitiesweredirectedtowardensuringthatthosewithoperationalresponsibilitywouldactonlyafterreceivingthejudgmentof(heDepartmentofJusticethataproposedCOU1"Sefactionwaslawful.Question#2:YourRoleintheBybeeMemorandum.Pleaseexplainwhatyoumeantwhenyouusedtheexpression"forwardleaning,"especiallyinanydocumentswbicbcontaintbatexpression.Pleasemakesuretbattbedocumentsprovided,andyourrefreshedrec:oUections,specifythepersonswhorequestedtheBybeeMemorandum,andthereasonfortberequest.3
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