Bush nominates ex-judge for attorney general

updated 1:05 p.m. ET Sept. 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday nominated a former federal judge as his choice to replace Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Democrats said Bush made a wise choice and raised no immediate objections.

As chief judge of the busy U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Mukasey had presided over high-profile terrorism cases.

“He knows what it takes to fight this war effectively and he knows how to do it in a manner consistent with our laws and our Constitution,” Bush said, standing next to Mukasey in the Rose Garden.

The president urged the Senate to quickly confirm Mukasey, who would be Bush’s third attorney general.

If approved by the Senate, Mukasey would take charge of a Justice Department where morale is low following months of investigations into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys and Gonzales’ sworn testimony on the Bush administration’s terrorist surveillance program.

Mukasey said he was honored to be Bush’s nominee to take the helm of the department.

“My finest hope and prayer at this time is that if confirmed I can give them the support and the leadership they deserve,” he said.

Others interviewed
There had been rampant speculation that Bush might turn to former Solicitor General Ted Olson for the job, but key Democrats on Capitol Hill said they believed Olson was too partisan a figure and indicated they would fight his nomination. The White House acknowledged that Bush had interviewed others for the job besides Mukasey.

The White House said that ease of confirmation was a factor, but not the decisive one, in Bush’s selection. Bush critics contended that Mukasey’s nomination was evidence of the president’s weakened political clout as he heads into the final 15 months of his term.

Senate Democrats declared no outright opposition to Mukasey. But they made clear that there would be no confirmation hearings until the administration answers outstanding questions about the White House’s role in the firings of federal prosecutors over the winter.

“Our focus now will be on securing the relevant information we need so we can proceed to schedule fair and thorough hearings,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Cooperation from the White House will be essential in determining that schedule.”

Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said the answers Leahy seeks are important, but not enough to delay the installation of someone to stabilize a leaderless Justice Department hobbled by scandal.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he believes the president listened to Congress and decided against a more partisan replacement for Gonzales. He said Mukasey had “strong professional credentials and a reputation for independence.”

“A man who spent 18 years on the federal bench surely understands the importance of checks and balances and knows how to say no to the president when he oversteps the Constitution,” said Reid, D-Nev. “But there should be no rush to judgment. The Senate Judiciary Committee must carefully examine Judge Mukasey’s views on the complex legal challenges facing the nation.”

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

Obama marks win, but challenges mount Rough road ahead for health care in Senate GOP says Dems put agenda ahead of country House Roll Call: Health care 2010 elections: Democratic fears, GOP hopes NYC mayor not humbled by close election Clinton: Berlin Wall festivities not just a party Obama will meet Netanyahu at White House Cheney blasts probe of CIA interrogations Obama praises bravery after base attack   Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: