New Criticism of Mukasey By Key Republican
Amid increasing concern that Michael Mukasey isn’t taking a strong enough stance against a prisoner interrogation technique that many consider a form of torture, a Republican leader has joined a chorus of Democratic critics of the U.S. Attorney General nominee.
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said today that he has concerns about Mukasey and isn’t sure he will vote to confirm him, reports the New York Times. In addition to Mukasey’s refusal during a two-day confirmation hearing last week to specifically renounce so-called waterboarding, a prisoner interrogation technique admittedly used by the U.S. government that simulates the experience of drowning, Spector also expressed concern about the former federal judge’s view of the president’s authority.
“I’m troubled by the depth of his assertion of executive powers,” Specter told the newspaper in a telephone interview.
As discussed in an earlier ABAJournal.com post, growing criticism of Mukasey has so far focused on waterboarding. All 10 of the judiciary committee’s Democratic members sent a letter to the nominee earlier this week, asking that he specifically renounce the technique as an unacceptable form of torture.
“Until this week, Mr. Mukasey’s nomination to replace Albert R. Gonzales as attorney general appeared to be a sure thing, and many Democratic lawmakers say privately that he is still likely to be confirmed, given the need for leadership in the Justice Department after months of turmoil,” the Times article states. “Apart from Mr. Specter, no Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have raised doubts about the nomination.”
