 December 15, 2007
Posted: 07:01 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Attorney General Michael Mukasey on Friday rejected demands from key congressional leaders for information about the Justice Department's preliminary inquiry into the destruction of CIA tapes of detainee interrogations, saying to do so might be seen as bowing to "political influence." In letters to the House and Senate Judiciary committees, he said he would not turn over the material they want nor would he appoint a special prosecutor to conduct the investigation, as some lawmakers had requested. "At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act independently, resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays no role in cases brought by the Department of Justice. Consistent with that testimony, the facts will be followed wherever they lead in this inquiry and the relevant law applied," Mukasey said. He sent a third similar letter to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who had been the first to issue demands for information from the Justice Department. "With regard to the suggestion that I appoint a special counsel, I am aware of no facts at present to suggest that department attorneys cannot conduct this inquiry in an impartial manner. If I become aware of information that leads me to a different conclusion, I will act on it," Mukasey said. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, said he was "disappointed" by the decision and indicated a confrontation with the new attorney general will come early next year. Filed under: Michael Mukasey November 14, 2007
Posted: 09:08 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — In his second day on the job, Attorney General Michael Mukasey leaped into the political fray, telling a key Democratic senator he opposes his electronic surveillance plan and would recommend the president veto it if it is passed. In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on the eve of crucial committee votes to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), Mukasey was adamant in opposing Leahy's plan for changing the law. Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell co-signed the letter released Wednesday night by the Justice Department. "We strongly oppose the proposed substitute amendment. If the substitute is part of a bill that is presented to the president, we and the president's other senior advisers will recommend that he veto the bill," they said. Filed under: Michael Mukasey • Patrick Leahy • President Bush November 9, 2007
Posted: 01:21 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Retired federal judge Michael Mukasey will become Attorney General Mukasey on Friday afternoon, taking the oath of office without fanfare from a Justice Department official. Officials said Mukasey was en route from New York to Washington at midday and was expected to go straight to his new Justice Department office to take the oath in private from Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Loftus. Next week Mukasey will be formally sworn in at a public ceremony either at the White House or the Justice Department. No date has been announced. Justice Department officials busily processing documents in advance of Mukasey's arrival said they expected the new attorney general to hold a series of closed meetings with senior officials Friday, including one dealing with classified matters to which Mukasey did not have access prior to his confirmation. Filed under: Michael Mukasey Posted: 09:00 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani praised newly confirmed Attorney General Michael Mukasey Friday, saying in a statement the former judge has "the leadership qualities that are needed to guide the department through this time of war." "Michael has a long and distinguished career in public service as an Assistant United States Attorney and as a United States District Judge," the former New York City mayor said. "His 18-year career as United States District Judge was one of the most outstanding in the country and I am certain his tenure as Attorney General will be just as outstanding." Giuliani and Mukasey are longtime friends, having first worked together more than 30 years ago in the New York City U.S. Attorney's office. – CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney Filed under: Michael Mukasey • Rudy Giuliani Posted: 08:30 AM ET
(CNN) — After weeks of controversy over Michael Mukasey's views on waterboarding, the Senate late Thursday approved the former judge's nomination for attorney general by a 53-40 vote. President Bush nominated Mukasey to replace longtime ally Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in September. The nomination had been considered at risk after a number of Democratic senators opposed Mukasey because of questions that arose from his views on the terror interrogation technique known as waterboarding and the president's power to order electronic surveillance. Filed under: Michael Mukasey November 2, 2007
Posted: 06:00 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Two Democratic senators said Friday they would vote for President Bush's nominee for attorney general, Michael Mukasey, hours after the chairman of the Judiciary Committee announced his opposition to the nominee. Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Schumer of New York announced they would support the retired federal judge from New York. Feinstein and Schumer are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is scheduled to vote on the Mukasey nomination Tuesday. Filed under: Michael Mukasey Posted: 02:09 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont will vote against the nomination of Michael Mukasey as attorney general, a source close to the senator told CNN Friday. Related video: Leahy won't vote for Mukasey Related: Bush plays the 9/11 card Filed under: Michael Mukasey • Patrick Leahy Posted: 08:40 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush used strong words Thursday. Saying "some in Washington should spend more time responding to the warnings of terrorists like Osama bin Laden and the requests of our commanders on the ground and less time responding to the demands of MoveOn.org bloggers and Code Pink protesters," Bush went to bat for his embattled Attorney General nominee. Watch this report about the President's effort to keep Michael Mukasey on track for confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com Filed under: Michael Mukasey • President Bush October 30, 2007
Posted: 05:32 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush's pick for attorney general, Judge Michael Mukasey, called the interrogation technique known as "waterboarding" a "repugnant" practice Tuesday, but again refused to say whether it violates U.S. laws banning torture. As he did in his Oct. 18 confirmation hearing, Mukasey told Senate Judiciary Committee members that he has not received classified briefings on what techniques American interrogators are allowed to use and cannot make a legal judgment. Filed under: Michael Mukasey Posted: 10:15 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Democratic White House hopeful Christopher Dodd visted the Situation Room Monday and spoke with Wolf Blitzer about Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey. Dodd said concerns about Mukases views on waterboarding was "a legitimate issue and one that ought to be pursued." "But Wolf, I have a deeper problem with Michael Mukasey," explained Dodd before summarizing Mukasey's views on the president's authority to engage wiretapping without proper authority under the governing federal statute. "There's nothing more basic in our Constitution than we are a nation of laws and not men," Dodd said. The Connecticut senator called the President's obligation to obey the law "the major issue here" with Mukasey's nomination. "If you believe that the President can trump a federal statute, you're violating the most basic, fundamental principle," Dodd emphasized. Dodd told Blitzer that he would vote against Mukasey's nomination because of Mukasey's views on presidential power. Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com –CNN Associate Producer Martina Stewart Filed under: Chris Dodd • Michael Mukasey • The Situation Room October 17, 2007
Posted: 02:03 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey made it clear to senators Wednesday that he would be independent of the White House and would make legal decisions based "on facts and law, not by interests and motives." Mukasey, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would resign from office if ever faced with a presidential order he believed was unconstitutional. He said he does not believe the president has legal authority to approve torture techniques for use on terror suspects, something former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales refused to say. Filed under: Michael Mukasey October 16, 2007
Posted: 07:30 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, were in CNN's Situation Room Tuesday. Leahy, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Specter, the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke with Wolf Blitzer about the upcoming confirmation hearings for Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, presidential power, and revising federal wiretapping law. Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com Filed under: Michael Mukasey • Patrick Leahy • The Situation Room October 11, 2007
Posted: 08:00 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has hired influential Washington attorney George Terwilliger to represent him as a probe continues into allegations he misled lawmakers about a controversial surveillance program and illegally let politics influence hiring and firing decisions at the Justice Department. Terwilliger tells CNN his firm is "assisting Judge Gonzales as we assist many companies and individuals when they are cooperating with investigations. It is always unfair for anyone to assume that hiring a lawyer represents anything other than common sense." Filed under: Alberto Gonzales • Michael Mukasey October 10, 2007
Posted: 05:30 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Senate confirmation hearings for attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey will begin next Wednesday, Oct. 17, Sen. Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, announced Wednesday. President Bush nominated Judge Mukasey to replace Alberto Gonzales last month. Gonzales was criticized for the controversial firing of eight U.S. attorneys. He resigned in August. – CNN Assignment Editor Katy Byron Filed under: Michael Mukasey September 17, 2007
Posted: 11:00 AM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush announced Monday morning that he has chosen a former federal judge, Michael Mukasey, as attorney general. If confirmed by the Senate, Mukasey will replace Alberto Gonzales. Bush touted Mukasey's record in a Rose Garden announcement. "Judge Mukasey was widely admired for his brilliance and his integrity" while on the bench, Bush said. Filed under: Michael Mukasey |
 
About The Ticker
The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.  CNN=Politics Screensaver
New in the Ticker
Follow us on Twitter
Categories
Popular Posts
 |
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
|
