January9,2017TheHonorableChuckGrassleyChairmanCommitteeontheJudiciaryU.S.SenateWashington,DC20510TheHonorableDianneFeinsteinRankingMemberCommitteeontheJudiciaryU.S.SenateWashington,DC20510

SenateCommitteeontheJudiciaryU.S.SenateWashington,D.C.20510DearChairmanGrassley,RankingMemberFeinstein,andMembersoftheCommitteeontheJudiciary,We,theundersignedorganizations,writeconcerningthenominationofSenatorJeffersonSessionsastheUnitedStatesAttorneyGeneral.WeurgeyoutousetheconfirmationhearingstoclarifySenatorSessions’commitmenttoupholdingruleoflaw,includingbysupportingandenforcinganti-corruptionmeasures,andmeasurestoensureaccountabilityforhumanrightsharms,includingthosecommittedbycorporations.TheU.S.governmenthasalongstandingcommitmenttopromotingandprotectinghumanrights,includingthroughitsmembershipintheUNHumanRightsCouncilin20161andits

1UnitedStatesElectiontotheHumanRightsCouncil,U.S.DEP’TOFSTATE(Oct.28,2016),https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/10/263798.htm.

endorsementoftheUNGuidingPrinciplesonBusinessandHumanRights(UNGPs),aseminaldevelopmentinrecognizingcorporations’humanrightsresponsibilities.TheDepartmentofJusticeplaysacrucialroleinensuringtherealizationofsuchcommitmentsbyenforcingexistinglawsandadministeringjusticefairlyandimpartially,howeverpowerfulandwealthythedefendantmaybe.Whencorporationscommitwrongdoingsthathavehumanrightsimpacts,theyveryrarelyareheldtoaccount.Suchcorporateimpunityhasaperniciouseffectonoursocietyasitdeniesjusticetovictimsofthecrime,weakenstheruleoflaw,andcreatesanunevenplayingfieldforlaw-abidingbusinesses.TheDepartmentofJusticeistaskedwith“seek[ing]justpunishmentforthoseguiltyofunlawfulbehavior.”2Thisshouldincludeprosecutionofhumanrightscrimes,includingwhensuchviolationsoflawarecommittedbycorporations.Eradicatingcorruptbusinessespracticesabroadisanessentialsteptoprotectinghumanrightsandensuringcorporateaccountability.Expertshaverecognizedthatwherecorruptioniswidespread,humanrightsaresubjecttoabuse.3OneofthekeylawsincombattingcorruptionabroadistheForeignCorruptPracticesAct(FCPA)whichbarsAmericanbusinessesfrommakingcorruptpaymentstoforeignofficialsandengaginginfinancialfraud.Unlikeotherareasofthelaw,FCPAenforcementhasbeenrigorousandproveneffectiveinpunishingcorruptbusinessactorswhilepromotingeconomicgrowthbyensuringafairandcompetitivebusinessenvironment. SenatorSessionshasrecognizedtheneedforcorporateaccountabilityandthecurrentprosecutiongap.Hehasmadecommentsexpressingadesireforendingcorporateimpunity.Duringa2010confirmationhearingfortheU.S.deputyattorneygeneral,JamesCole,SenatorSessionsidentifiedCole’sprosecutionrecordoncorporatecrimesasoneofhismainareasofconcern.SenatorSessionsraiseddoubtsonthe“dangerous”philosophyofnotchargingcompaniescriminallyoutoftheconcernforcollateraldamagetotheshareholdersandemployees.Hesaid,"Normally,Iwastaughtiftheyviolatedalaw,youchargethem.Iftheydidn’tviolatethelaw,youdon’tchargethem."4ItiscriticalfortheUnitedStatestomaintainaleadershiproleonhumanrightsandtheAttorneyGeneraltocommittoupholdingsuchprinciples.Assuch,weurgeyoutousetheconfirmationprocesstoclarifySenatorSessions’viewsandcommitmentstothefollowing:2AboutDOJ,U.S.DEP’TOFJUST.,https://www.justice.gov/about(lastvisitedJan.8,2017).3SeeInternationalCouncilonHumanRightsPolicy,CorruptionandHumanRights:MakingtheConnection,23fn.33(2009)(quotingCommitteeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRightsasstatingthat“statesfaceseriousproblemsofcorruption,whichhavenegativeeffectsonthefullexerciseofrightscoveredbythe…[ICESCR]“andquotingtheCommitteeontheRightsoftheChildasstatingthatit“remainsconcernedatthenegativeimpactcorruptionmayhaveontheallocationofalreadylimitedresourcestoeffectivelyimprovethepromotionandprotectionofchildren’srights,includingtheirrighttoeducationandhealth”)(internalcitationsomitted).4Hearing,NominationOfJamesMichaelCole,NomineeToBeDeputyAttorneyGeneral,U.S.DepartmentOfJustice,U.S.SENATEJUDICIARYCOMMITTEE98-99(Jun.15,2010),https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/CHRG-111shrg64377.pdf.

IfconfirmedastheU.S.AttorneyGeneral,

1) WillSenatorSessionsensureeffectiveprosecutionofcorporatehumanrightsabusesasakeypriorityoftheDepartmentofJustice,andensureU.S.compliancewithinternationalobligations?Whatstepswillhetaketoensurethatlawenforcementhavesufficientresources,training,andpoliticalsupporttotakeoncorporatewrongdoers?

2) WillSenatorSessionscontinuerigorousenforcementoftheFCPAanddedicatethesameorevenelevatedresourcestothisareaoflaw?Throughwhichsteps?

3) TheHumanRightsandSpecialProsecutionsSection(HRSP)withintheDepartmentofJusticewasestablishedin2010toinvestigateandprosecutecasesagainsthumanrightsviolatorsandotherinternationalcriminals.WillSenatorSessionscontinuetosupport,withresources,time,andcommitment,theHRSP?Throughwhichsteps?

Wearethankfulforyourconsideration,andlooktoyoutosafeguardtheUnitedStates’commitmenttoupholdingruleoflaw,includingbysupportingandenforcinganti-corruptionmeasures,andmeasurestoensureaccountabilityforhumanrightsharms,includingthosecommittedbycorporations.Sincerely,AmazonWatchCoalitionofImmokaleeWorkersEGJusticeFIDHGlobalWitnessGreenpeaceUSATheInternationalCorporateAccountabilityRoundtable(ICAR)InternationalRightsAdvocatesMercyInvestmentServicesNorthwestCoalitionforResponsibleInvestmentProjectonOrganizing,Development,Education,andResearch(PODER)Tri-StateCoalitionforResponsibleInvestment