could significantly interfere with the government's own legitimate investigative activities in an unnecessary and harmful way.

We should be able to show that this was a whitewash, ... What they were about was quashing the legitimate investigative arm of the secretary of state's office.

This is an ordinary tool as used throughout the country but always in adherence to the Constitution and always -- and this is so important -- always with the oversight of a federal judge who has to determine that ... probable cause exists in the first place,

[Chuck Rosenberg, a Fitzgerald friend who is U.S. attorney in Houston, was asked recently why Fitzgerald is going after reporters.] I said to them, 'Pat isn't going after journalists, he is after the truth,' ... He's exactly the kind of person you'd want doing something like this.

What is broken about the way we are handling matters involving subpoenas to the media? We rarely issue subpoenas to the media seeking information about confidential sources. And when we do, it is only after painstakingly careful review and meticulous adherence to our internal guidelines.

I do want to say that I know Jim Letten both personally and by reputation, and he is an extraordinary public servant and a very honorable man.