U.S. Department of Justice
Criminal Division

Office of Assistant Attorney General

Washington, D.C. 20530

December 10, 2016

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
I write to apologize to each of you for the remarks I made during a recent panel at a
Federalist Society event. My remarks followed statements by my co-panelists in which they
expressed their strong views about specific cases which they believed were mishandled by the
Department. I did not have prepared remarks for the event, and I certainly should have. Instead,
I overreacted to the criticisms—which I strongly believe were not an accurate reflection of the
Department’s work—by defending the Department in a way that inappropriately suggested that
the care taken by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and others in making prosecutorial decisions was less
than that taken by attorneys in the Criminal Division. And by making unscripted references to
isolated issues in my recent experience, I realize that, rather than defending the reputation of the
entire Department, I appeared to be criticizing U.S. Attorney’s Offices, Assistant U.S. Attorneys
and other components. I deeply regret my remarks and the genuine hurt that they have caused.
As a federal prosecutor for 19 years, including 16 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in two
different districts, I know better.
Over the course of my career, I have worked with hundreds of dedicated prosecutors, and
supervised many hundreds more. I know from personal experience that these prosecutors are
committed public servants who have, in many cases, devoted their careers to protecting the
innocent, to providing fair and due process to the accused, and promoting the cause of justice,
almost always for far less compensation than they could obtain in the private sector. I also know
first-hand that prosecutors across the Department care equally about upholding the Department’s
values and the Constitution’s mandates in prosecuting crimes ranging from gang violence to
white collar fraud. As I said at the event, I wish the American public could see what I have seen
every day for nearly 20 years: the level of care and thought given by Department attorneys to
prosecutorial decisions both large and small. I also wish the public could see the way in which
Department prosecutors consistently hold themselves to the highest standards, embracing both
the enormous responsibility and scrutiny that their positions place on them. The public would be
impressed, as I am.
I have tremendous respect for the U.S. Attorneys and fully recognize that the hard work
of Assistant U.S. Attorneys is what leads to most of the Department’s successes. Indeed, that is
why, as Assistant Attorney General, one of my highest priorities has been to strengthen and
broaden the already deep relationship between the Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s

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Offices. In my view, the Division’s greatest strength is our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s
Offices. Working together, we have been able to achieve extraordinary results in many
significant cases, ranging from major gang prosecutions, to cutting-edge cyber cases, to some of
the most complicated fraud cases ever handled by the Department. Our partnership is strong,
and getting stronger. And for that reason, I regret even more deeply any negative impact my
unscripted comments might cause. I also want to add a word to the Criminal Division personnel
who saw and were upset by my remarks. These trial attorneys and supervisors spend their days
working alongside colleagues in other components even more regularly than I do, and I know
how much they respect their colleagues and enjoy building relationships at the same time as
building cases. My remarks should not for a second be taken to reflect their views.
Last week, I addressed a group of new DOJ attorneys, and when they asked for career
advice, I told them something that I am now going to apply to myself: Admit your mistakes,
deal with the consequences, and learn.
I love the Department of Justice and deeply respect our values, the work we do, and the
way we do it, both in the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and at Main Justice. That by my own remarks
I suggested otherwise pains me deeply. I made a mistake, and I am sorry.
Sincerely,

Leslie R. Caldwell