"I would be with those who say the hierarchy in the United States has badly mishandled this whole situation"

In this quote, William P. Leahy is revealing his contract with those who think that the hierarchy (the people in positions of power and authority) in the United States has actually stopped working to handle a specific circumstance effectively. It suggests that Leahy believes that those in power have made bad choices or taken inadequate action in response to the circumstance. The quote does not specify the context of the circumstance being described, however it might potentially relate to a variety of issues including politics, police, or public health. In general, Leahy's declaration is critical of the actions or lack thereof of those in power regarding a particular circumstance.