In his opening statement, Eric Holder said he wanted to restore the reputation of the Justice Department that has been tainted by partisanship — this coming from the man who helped suecure the Marc Rich pardon. Among his other goals is to use every tool against our adversaries while abiding by both “the letter and the spirit of the law.” In addition to going after terrorists, he emphasized the department’s role in fighting crime, protecting civil rights, and policing financial wrongdoing. In an obvious reference to the Rich episode, Holder said he admits his mistakes. “I can see my errors clearly, and I can tell you that I have learned from them,” he said.
