THE HONERABLE NORM COLEMAN

December 18, 2007

Statement of Senator Norm Coleman
Nomination of Nathan Hochman

It is truly an honor to be here today introducing my friend, Nathan Hochman. One of the most important responsibilities of the U.S. Senate is clearly laid out in Article II of the Constitution. It says our job as U.S. Senators is to offer "advice and consent" over all nominations, and in doing so I believe it is our responsibility to find the best possible public-servant to do the job. Today, I am hopeful that we will fulfill that important duty by approving the nomination of Nathan Hochman to be the next Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division. Nathan has had an exemplary career from his education at Brown University and Stanford Law all the way to his current position as Principal at Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher and Perez, P.C. in Beverly Hills, CA.

He has also already demonstrated a tireless commitment to public service. He has vigorously pursued opportunities to serve his country through the federal judicial system and has then gone above and beyond the call of duty to be awarded and honored for his contributions and skill. His awards include the Inspector General's Award of Excellence, USDOJ's Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant, and the Federal Law Enforcement Officer's Association Prosecutorial Award.

Moreover, not only does Nathan have an excellent overall background in both prosecution and defense of the law, but his expertise in tax law would be a tremendous asset to the Department. He is the author of several publications on the topic which appeared in leading journals such as the Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure and Los Angeles Lawyer.
And as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, he was involved in over 20 federal district court trials, many dealing with financial and tax-related crimes.

Finally, and most notably, Nathan's leadership skills are beyond reproach and have been demonstrated in several capacities. He confidently and adeptly ran the L.A. Disaster Fraud Task Force and the Environmental Crimes Task Force. He has also taken on leadership roles in numerous non-profit organizations, dedicating his time and energy to the community at large.

I strongly believe Nathan Hochman would serve our country as Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division with the same integrity, expertise and outstanding commitment as he has exhibited over the course of his lifetime, and he has my highest recommendation and respect.