Today, before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder testified on several recent Justice Department developments. Two hot-button issues stole the show, though: domestic prosecutions of international terror suspects and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) report on alleged ethics violations by Bush administration attorneys.

"We need not cower in the face of this enemy," the attorney general said in response to critics of prosecuting terror suspects in federal court. "Our institutions are strong, our infrastructure
is sturdy, our resolve is firm, and our people are ready."

"I'm not scared of what Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has to say at trial, and no one else has to be afraid either," Holder told the committee.

Holder's testimony gave senators the first opportunity to question him since the announcement that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other Guantanamo detainees will be tried in federal court. Those critical of the decision included Senator Lindsay Graham and Ranking Member Jeff Sessions, who said that he feared that the passage of time since 9/11 had "dulled the memories" of some Americans.

Holder also fielded questions about the OPR report concerning suspect ethics decisions by former Justice Department attorneys John Yoo, Stephen Bradbury and others. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who has repeatedly demanded the report's release, asked the attorney general when it may be anticipated.

At The Washington Independent, Daphne Eviatar reported Holder's reply:

"The report is completed," said Holder. "It is in its last stages of review now." Holder said it was delayed "because of the amount of time we gave to the lawyers who were the subject of the report to respond. And then people in OPR had to respond to their responses." Holder said that in this final stage, "a career prosecutor has to review the report. We expect that process should be done by the end of the month. At that point the report should be issued."