Prepared Statement by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
Before the Committee on the Judiciary regarding the Nomination of:  
Sally Yates, to be Deputy Attorney General
Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Today, we will consider the nomination of Sally Yates to be Deputy Attorney General. Let me start by noting that she’s already doing the job she’s been nominated for. She’s been serving as the Acting Deputy Attorney General since the beginning of the year, so she already has some experience with leading the Department and has been exposed to some of the challenges the Department is facing. 

Before her service as Acting Deputy Attorney General, Ms. Yates served in the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Georgia for over 25 years, including five as the U.S. Attorney. So, she also has experience in running an office and important experience as a prosecutor.

Too often, when nominees appear before our Committee, they avoid answering questions by claiming that they aren’t yet on the job, so they aren’t in a position to provide responsive answers.  However, because Ms. Yates has already been on the job for several months, I assume she’ll be able to answer questions about the Department for us. 

I won’t repeat all my concerns with the way the Department of Justice has been run the past six years. I outlined those concerns at Ms. Lynch’s hearing.  But my concerns remain. So, I’ll be interested in discussing these important matters with Ms. Yates today.

Ms. Yates obviously has a lot of impressive experience as a prosecutor. Throughout her career, she’s been involved in a number of discussions on criminal law issues. One thing I’m going to ask Ms. Yates about today is the positions she’s taken regarding mandatory minimum sentences. 

For example, in testimony before the Sentencing Commission she said, “Mandatory minimum sentences increase deterrence and cooperation by those involved in crime.” She also called Mandatory Minimums an “essential law enforcement tool” and argued that mandatory minimum sentences have helped reduce crime rates. 

Finally, let me say, just as I’m hoping the next Attorney General provides an independent voice and works to de-politicize the Department, I have the same hope for the Deputy Attorney General.

So, I’m looking forward to hearing Ms. Yates’ perspective on the current state of the Department. As she provides her testimony and answers to our questions, I’ll be listening for the changes she’d make to the Department and the improvements she’d implement to make it more transparent.  The Department of Justice remains deeply politicized, and I’m hopeful that the next Deputy Attorney General will have what it takes to make some of the changes so badly needed.

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