STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES ON THE
RESIGNATION OF ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL R. HEWITT PATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales today issued the following statement on the resignation of Assistant Attorney General R. Hewitt Pate of the Antitrust Division:

"Hew Pate has been a strong enforcer of our nation's antitrust laws," said Attorney General Gonzales. "From combating international price fixing cartels to challenging anticompetitive mergers, Hew's leadership has been exemplary. I am grateful for his public service at the Justice Department and his dedication to protecting consumers and businesses from anticompetive harm."

Under Pate's leadership, the detection, prosecution and deterence of cartel offenses was the Division's highest priority. Since he became Assistant Attorney General, more than $717 million in criminal fines were obtained against 31 corporations and 37 individuals as a result of criminal antitrust prosecutions. Pate oversaw the Antitrust Division's merger enforcement program which allowed procompetitive mergers to go forward while requiring divestitures in other transactions in order to protect competition. Pate advocated transparent, objective rules for evaluating unilateral conduct by businesses in order to protect competition without unintentionally harming it. He also stressed the importance of international cooperation through the International Competition Network and competition advocacy and convergence efforts with antitrust enforcement authorities throughout the world.

"It has been a great honor to serve under President Bush and Attorneys General Ashcroft and Gonzales during my tenure at the Justice Department," said Pate.

Pate was confirmed by the Senate and became Assistant Attorney General on June 16, 2003. He had served as Acting Assistant Attorney General from November 23, 2002 until his confirmation. Since June 3, 2001, until he became Acting Assistant Attorney General, he served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General overseeing matters including airline, transportation, energy, and regulatory issues.

From 1990 until his arrival at the Department, Pate practiced law at Hunton & Williams where he was a partner on the firm's antitrust team.

Pate's resignation will be effective June 30, 2005.

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