Dems Won’t Hold Up Mukasey Hearing

Democrats won’t hold Michael Mukasey’s confirmation hearing hostage to their demands for documents regarding controversial Justice Department actions.

Yesterday the White House called for swift hearings for Mukasey, nominated to be attorney general three weeks ago, the New York Times reports.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy said in a letter that the hearing will be held despite his committee’s unsuccessful efforts to obtain the documents. The committee wants more information about the firings of at least eight U.S. attorneys and the legal justifications for a terrorism wiretapping program.

Leahy indicated that Mukasey will be questioned about his views on the controversies, the Washington Post reports. One question asks whether the Justice Department can be compelled to prosecute White House aides who refuse to comply with congressional subpoenas.

Hearings on Mukasey’s nomination are likely to begin before the end of the month.