The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be attorney general on Tuesday by a vote of eleven to eight. Mukasey ultimately owed his approval by the Committee to the two Democrats who broke with their party to support him: Chuck Schumer of New York and Dianne Feinstein of California. They joined all nine Republicans on the panel in backing Mukasey. Eight Democrats voted against him.
Mukasey’s confirmation had been in doubt after he refused to condemn waterboarding as a form of torture. Now his nomination is expected to go to the Senate floor by next week where he is virtually assured to win confirmation. The Judiciary Committee’s ranking Republican, Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, said at yesterday’s hearing that he had been dissatisfied with some of Mukasey’s responses to questions about waterboarding and torture, but that he ultimately decided to approve his nomination.
- Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee .
Senator Patrick Leahy, the committee chair, decided to call for a vote before any other panel members spoke.Senator Leahy threatening to remove any protesters from the hearing room after some members of the antiwar group CodePink who were in attendance spoke out in opposition during the vote roll. Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy was the first to speak after the committee vote. He argued forcefully against Mukasey’s confirmation.
- Democratic Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts.
California Senator Dianne Feinstein was one of two Democrats who broke with their party to support Michael Mukasey’s nomination as attorney general. She said she was backing Mukasey in part to stabilize the leaderless Justice Department and to avoid recess appointments.
- Democratic Senator Diane Feinstein of California.
Committee Chair Patrick Leahy directing security to remove a protester from the hearing room after they spoke out at the end of Senator Feinstein’s comments. The remaining protesters, members of the antiwar group CodePink, stood up in silence in the back of the room holding up signs in opposition to Muksey and torture. Later in the hearing, Chuck Schumer, the other Democrat who broke with his party to support Mukasey’s nomination explained the reasons behind his vote. Schumer had initially recommended Mukasey to the White House as a consensus candidate.
- Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer of New York.
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