The Honorable Mark Warner

United States Senator
Virginia
February 5, 2009

STATEMENT OF HON. MARK WARNER, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

Chairman Leahy, Senator Specter and my other distinguished colleagues on the
Senate's Judiciary Committee,

I am pleased to support the nomination of one of my constituents and a longtime Virginia resident, David Ogden, to serve as Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. I first met Mr. Ogden when I was Governor of Virginia at a fundraiser for the Appalachian School of Law and have had the opportunity to talk to him as a nominee for this position to discuss his vision for the Department of Justice, should he be confirmed. I am extremely impressed by his professional and academic achievements and, if he is confirmed, I will look forward to working with him on critical legal, criminal justice, and national security issues important to my state and the nation.

The Deputy Attorney General has a critical role advising and assisting the Attorney General in formulating and implementing Departmental policies and programs as well as supervising and directing all organizational units of the Department. Mr. Ogden will be well served by his experience serving five and a half years at the Department of Justice during the Clinton Administration, including in the office of the Deputy Attorney General, as well as more than a year before that as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Defense. He has had an impressive career in the private sector, managing a range of complex matters in fields as diverse as antitrust, constitutional, fraud and false claims, and international disputes. He also has impeccable educational credentials, and served as a law clerk to two federal judges, including a justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Ogden's legal, managerial and policy experiences will serve him well at the Department. He is committed to making sure that the Department of Justice remains an independent fighter for the rights of all Americans.

I believe David Ogden will be an asset to the Department of Justice and I am pleased to indicate my support. I look forward to the Committee reporting his nomination favorably and hope there is a confirmation vote before the full Senate without delay.

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