SHERMAN: The administration has put forward various theories under which anyone, even American citizens, could be arrested without being charged with a crime. One of these is the theory that you could be classified as an enemy combatant. Are there any American citizens being held today, for over a month, who have been denied habeas corpus or access to an attorney?

GONZALES: I don’t believe so, Congressman.

SHERMAN: Wouldn’t it be your duty as Attorney General to make sure that their rights to habeas corpus were honored?

GONZALES: Well, you know, there’s a lot of people in this government and sometimes people do things that they shouldn’t be –

And I’m not suggesting that’s occurring here. But you’re asking me a question I hadn’t really thought about.

SHERMAN: Is there any agency answerable to the Department of Justice –

GONZALES: We’re all answerable to — put the Constitution into our laws, yes.

SHERMAN: Now, are there any U.S. citizens being held now by foreign governments or foreign organizations, without access to attorneys, as a result of rendition, where agents of the administration have taken people into custody and then given them up to foreign officials?

GONZALES: I don’t — Congressman, I don’t know if I have the question to that question either. It’s something I would have to look at.

SHERMAN: Wouldn’t you, as the chief officer responsible for protecting our civil rights, want to know?

GONZALES: Yes. And I’m not suggesting that that is occurring — It’s just — quite frankly, I hadn’t thought about this.

SHERMAN: Would you respond for the record?

GONZALES: I’d be happy. If I can respond to the question, I will.

SHERMAN: Let me move on to another question. You now have focused more on these –

GONZALES: I don’t want the press to run out and say, “Oh my gosh, U.S. citizens are being held by the government secretly, other governments.” I don’t think that’s the case. I just want the American public to understand that.

SHERMAN: I look forward to a definitive answer for the record. Let’s move on.