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Michael Mukasey

Started by S Goldstein; Last updated Feb 14, 08 5:11 AM CST by D Lim | View history

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Michael Mukasey

Bush's pick for the next Attorney General isn't as controversial as Ted Olson, but still faces plenty of hurdles before reaching confirmation

Stories

Stories 21 - 40 of 43

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November 2007
- At Mukasey Ceremony, Bush Vows Justice Makeover
  
  Associated Press | Nov 14, 07 11:15 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - President Bush looked on as Michael Mukasey was ceremonially sworn in today as attorney general today, the AP reports, and promised to rebuild the ravaged Justice Department behind him. “Michael Mukasey has my complete trust and confidence,” Bush said. “And he's going to have the trust and confidence of the men and women of the Department of Justice.” More »
- Senate Confirms Mukasey as AG
  
  Associated Press | Nov 8, 07 10:32 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Senate tonight approved retired judge Michael Mukasey to be the next attorney general, AP reports. Mukasey, whose refusal to declare that waterboarding is illegal nearly torpedoed his nomination, will replace Alberto Gonzales. "This is the only chance we have," said Dianne Feinstein before the 53-40 vote, referring to Democratic hopes of reforming the Justice Department and Bush's reluctance to nominate anyone else. More »
- Mukasey Would Enforce New Torture Law, Senator Says
  
  New York Times | Nov 6, 07 10:15 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Michael Mukasey has told Chuck Schumer he would enforce a law specifically prohibiting waterboarding and other torture practices, the senator writes in today's Times. The AG nominee's personal assurance and respect for the rule of law earned him the New York Democrat’s support in this morning's 11-8 Judiciary Committee vote, which advanced the nomination to the full Senate. More »
- 2 Key Dems Support Mukasey
  
  CNN | Nov 2, 07 5:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Despite controversy over Michael Mukasey's cagey responses to questions about waterboarding and torture, Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein will vote to confirm the AG nominee, the Democratic senators said this afternoon. Their votes, along with Republican committee members', are expected to tip the scales in Mukasey's favor and send his nomination to a full Senate vote, CNN reports. More »
- Bush Criticizes Mukasey Inquisitors
  
  Washington Post | Nov 1, 07 1:39 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Interrogation techniques held the spotlight today as President Bush accused Senate Democrats of asking attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey "unfair" questions about waterboarding and torture. Bush claimed Mukasey "doesn't know whether we use that technique or not," and lauded the candidate for not telling "an enemy what we're doing," the Washington Post reports. More »
October 2007
- Mukasey Faces Uncertain Vote
  
  Washington Post | Oct 31, 07 7:02 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A vote that could send the nomination of Michael Mukasey as US attorney general to the full Senate will come Tuesday, the Democrat in charge of the Senate Judiciary Committee said today. Once thought certain, Mukasey's confirmation now appears to hinge on his refusal to classify as illegal torture the technique known as waterboarding, the Washington Post reports. More »
- Mukasey Calls Waterboarding 'Repugnant,' Dodges Legality
  
  CNN | Oct 31, 07 6:09 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey frustrated senators on both sides of the aisle by again refusing to specify whether he considers waterboarding a form of torture, calling it only "repugnant," CNN reports. "Hypotheticals are different from real life," Mukasey wrote to confirmation committee members yesterday, adding that he wasn't privy to what techniques investigators are allowed to use. More »
- Mukasey Hits Resistance on Torture
  
  New York Times | Oct 27, 07 6:47 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - If AG nominee Michael Mukasey doesn't clarify his views on which interrogation techniques are constitutional, Democratic senators say they may oppose his confirmation. Proceedings that were expected to be smooth sailing ran into trouble this week when Mukasey, who has denounced the use of torture, declined to specify whether he includes the widely condemned practice of waterboarding in that category, reports the New York Times. More »
- Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying
  
  New York Times | Oct 18, 07 8:31 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Michael Mukasey remained mum today on whether interrogation methods such as waterboarding constitute torture. But the president’s nominee for attorney general spoke out in favor of the White House’s eavesdropping program, the NY Times reports, frustrating and confusing Democrats on the second day of his confirmation hearings. Mukasey argued the president’s constitutional authority may allow him to supersede congressional law. More »
- No More Politics in Justice Dept., Mukasey Vows
  
  Reuters | Oct 17, 07 12:19 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A Michael Mukasey-led Justice Department won’t be the White House puppet many accused it of being under Alberto Gonzalez, the Attorney General nominee promised as confirmation hearings opened today. “Legal decisions and the progress of cases are decided by facts and law, not by interests and motives,” he said, and promised to advise the president on the limits of executive power. More »
- Dems to Grill AG Nominee on Bush's Meddling
  
  Christian Science Monitor | Oct 16, 07 2:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Michael Mukasey's confirmation hearings kick off tomorrow, and the focus of senators' questions for the AG nominee is already clear, the Christian Science Monitor reports: Democrats want assurances he’ll be more independent than Alberto Gonzales. Pat Leahy, for one, is looking for agreement that “federal law enforcement should not be compromised by political operatives from the White House.” More »
September 2007
- Judges Condemn Sentencing Guidelines
  
  Los Angeles Times | Sep 29, 07 2:18 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Judges across the country are condemning federal sentencing guidelines, 1980s-era anti-drug laws that force them to impose “irrational” sentences, the LA Times reports. “When I have to sentence a midlevel drug dealer to more time than a murderer, something is wrong,” said a judge forced to sentence a 24-year-old to 59 years for selling pot. More »
- Mukasey Is No Gonzales
  
  Los Angeles Times | Sep 23, 07 12:05 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Michael Mukasey, President Bush's candidate to succeed embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, has an independent streak that could end up changing the way the Justice Department is run. This could make things sticky for Bush in dealing with the congressional probes into activities under the previous AG's reign, suggests the Los Angeles Times. More »
- Bush's AG Pick Has History With Terror Trials
  
  New York Times | Sep 20, 07 2:08 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Before America was paying attention, Judge Michael Mukasey tried a landmark terrorism case. The 1995-96 trial of blind sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted with nine others of plotting a massive "day of terror" at three New York sites, forced Mukasey, now President Bush's nominee for US attorney general, to navigate issues of secrecy, security and civil liberties. More »
- The Right’s Beef With Mukasey? The Left Doesn’t Hate Him
  
  Slate | Sep 18, 07 7:37 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The GOP is uneasy with Bush’s choice for attorney general, but only because liberals don't despise him, says Slate ’s Dahlia Lithwick. Unlike Roberts and Alito, Michael Mukasey doesn’t know “all 17 twists in the Federalist Society's secret handshake”—leaving open the chance that he might be (gasp!) an independent thinker. Yet Mukasey is no "renegade outside-the-Beltway badass" either. More »
- Mukasey Courts the Hill
  
  Bloomberg | Sep 18, 07 5:59 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Mukasey mingled today with the Dems who will make or break his chance at becoming the next attorney general. If they're worried about him taking on the job, none showed it, Bloomberg reports. Even Senator Leahy, who wants the White House to fork over documents on its surveillance program before a new AG is approved, signaled support for the conservative nominee. More »
- Mukasey Faces Senate Hurdle
  
  New York Times | Sep 18, 07 4:10 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The confirmation of former federal judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general may not be the slam dunk the White House expects it to be. Senate Democrats have warned that the Judiciary Committee will delay confirmation unless the administration turns over documents the panel is seeking in several investigations, reports the New York Times. Mukasey was chosen specifically to avoid a bitter confirmation battle. More »