Called to testify to a joint legislative committee on the Financial Resources Mortgage ponzi scheme, Kelly Ayotte's message came to this:
“You know, I am all as a leader for the principle of the buck stops at my desk. But for that to happen the buck has to reach my desk, and unfortunately that did not happen."
Bear in mind that Ayotte was the attorney general at the time complaints about FRM were brought to the attorney general's office and not investigated.
As long as you can prevent the buck from getting to your desk, it's not your problem. That's quite a theory of leadership Ayotte is trying to bring to the United States Senate.