Michael Mukasey

Says failure of Senators to vote is a failure to lead; reiterates that torture is unacceptable in any form, promises to prosecute anyone responsible for its use as President

11/09/2007 -- SANTA FE, NM-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today issued the following statement in condemnation of the Senate's confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General of the United States:    » read more »

November 09, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today sent the following letter to newly confirmed Attorney General Michael Mukasey.

The text of the letter read:

We are pleased that the Senate voted to confirm you last night as Attorney General of the United States. As you take office, we strongly urge you to immediately receive briefings on the CIA interrogation program and to publicly declare that the technique known as “waterboarding” is illegal.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- This debate has boiled down to a discussion of principles that are as vital to American ideals and to the American soul as is the fleeting issue of who will act as the Attorney General for the next 14 months. During the Judiciary Committee’s consideration of this nomination earlier this week, Senators Kennedy, Kohl, Feingold, Durbin, Cardin, Whitehouse and I made clear the fallacy that would disregard settled law and discredit America’s role in the struggle for liberty and human dignity.    » read more »

November 9, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced on the Senate floor his opposition to the nomination of Attorney General nominee Judge Michael Mukasey. Among other reasons, Harkin was most disappointed with Mukasey’s refusal to denounce torturous practices such as waterboarding and electric shocks, and his failure to recommend closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility – even though Republican officials like former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Defense Secretary Robert Gates have agreed it should be shut down.    » read more »

November 9, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC-Following his vote to oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:

“Judge Mukasey is an honorable man who possesses the experience and ability to serve as Attorney General. But I question his ability to be the strong, independent leader that is required now at the Justice Department. He is the nominee of an administration which has too often put politics and ideology ahead of principle and the rule of law.    » read more »

November 9, 2007 -- (Washington, DC) - Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) sent a letter to newly confirmed Attorney General Michael Mukasey restating their October 4 request to receive copies of Justice Department "secret" legal opinions authorizing the use of torture on terror suspects.    » read more »

(As Prepared for Delivery)

November 9, 2007 -- "Mr. President, the Department of Justice is in a state of crisis. Under Attorney General Gonzales, it too often served as a rubber stamp for the White House and as a pawn for political gain, rather than as the nation’s guardian of the rule of law. It ignored the law and authorized torture and warrantless surveillance. It let politics drive decisions about who should be prosecuted. It fired U.S. Attorneys who would not go along.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Below is a statement of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) on the Senate’s vote to confirm Judge Michael Mukasey as United States Attorney General:

“Judge Mukasey takes the helm at a time when the Justice Department is in desperate need of leadership and good judgment.

The Attorney General must be someone absolutely committed to upholding the Constitution. He must be someone committed to protecting civil rights and restoring respect for the rule of law, including unequivocally rejecting the use of torture.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – The following are Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) remarks as prepared for delivery on the Senate floor:

Mr. President, I rise today to express my opposition to the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to be our next Attorney General.

I thank Chairman Leahy and his committee for working hard to examine the nominee’s record and help us provide the advice and consent required by our Constitution.

I have respect for Judge Mukasey’s background, his dedication to public service, and his reputation as a distinguished jurist and a good man.    » read more »

November 8, 2007 -- Tonight the Senate will vote on the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General. His nomination comes at a critical time. At this moment in history, America is faced with serious challenges both at home and abroad. We are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and are engaged in a long-term struggle against al Qa’ida and other extremists.    » read more »

Testimony Before the Senate Judiciary Committee

November 6, 2007 -- "Judge Mukasey has a distinguished record of public service and, but for one issue, speaks with clarity on the law. His nomination hinges on that issue: the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of prisoners held by our government.

On that issue, the late historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. said this about the Bush Administration’s legal defense of torture: “No position taken has done more damage to the American reputation in the world—ever.”    » read more »

United States Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Session

November 6, 2007 -- (As Prepared for Delivery)    » read more »

November 6, 2007 -- "With today’s vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Mukasey’s nomination to be the next Attorney General of the United States now goes to the full Senate for consideration. As I have stated, I oppose Judge Mukasey’s nomination. I believe we need an Attorney General who has the strength to challenge this Administration when it is wrong, who is committed to reestablishing the independence of the Department of Justice and to restoring respect for the Constitution and the rule of law.    » read more »

November 6, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today:

“I was profoundly disturbed by statements Judge Michael Mukasey made during his confirmation hearings concerning executive power, and about the legality of the use of waterboarding as an interrogation technique. As a result, I cannot in good conscience vote to approve his nomination to be Attorney General of the United States.    » read more »

Letter Sent To Judiciary Chairman Says Plainly What AG Nominee Will Not

WASHINGTON (Monday, Nov. 5) – On the eve of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s scheduled vote on the nomination of Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Monday released a letter from four retired military generals who concur with Leahy that “waterboarding” is torture and that it is illegal.    » read more »