Hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary- Mark Up to Vote on the Nomination of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States

Statement

Hearing of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary- Mark Up to Vote on the Nomination of Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States

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SEN. GRASSLEY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I'm going to vote as I've just voted in committee for Judge Mukasey's approval to be attorney general of the United States. Judge Mukasey has showed us how capable he is, how intelligent, how knowledgeable of the law, and he is viewed as being an honorable individual. He seems to be the straight shooter that all of us in Congress ought to want -- (off mike) -- and tells it like it is -- a man of the law, not of politics. Judge Mukasey appears to be fiercely independent, which is a key quality that we want of an individual who will run our Justice Department.

Certainly, we all agree that the Justice Department needs good, effective leadership, a shot in the arm to boost morale. With so many positions open at the Justice Department, we need to act quickly to get that department fully filled with the top positions so it can do its work.

I think Judge Mukasey will be a good captain of that ship.

In my opinion, Judge Mukasey has been candid with the committee and has done his best in answering questions on what his views are on various subjects. Judge Mukasey says that he hasn't been briefed on specific interrogation techniques so he cannot make broad statements on whether particular technique is legal or what is not, but he says that torture is against the law and the Constitution. He says that he opposes torture and would tell the president in no uncertain terms that any technique he concluded amounted to torture is illegal.

So we can call Judge Mukasey a liar or not if we want to, but I take Judge Mukasey at his word. I don't believe that he would allow any illegal program to go forward, and I don't believe that he would bow to any kind of pressure even from the president if he thought that there were such a problem.

So I'm disappointed in some of my colleagues who have disqualified Judge Mukasey because he won't give them exactly the answer they want. Stop to think of it -- if every nominee before every committee of the United States Senate had to satisfy every senator on every question, no nominee would ever be approved. Judge Mukasey is an outstanding nominee. He couldn't ask -- we couldn't ask for a more competent person in that particular job. He has presided over thousands of cases as a judge, and he's shown that he can handle hard cases fairly. He's demonstrated that he is his own person and that he is independent individual with strong commitment to law and the Constitution.

I'm happy a majority of my colleagues on the committee have supported this highly qualified individual to come before the entire United States Senate. I believe he will be a good steward of the Justice Department. He'll uphold the law and the Constitution. He deserves our support and deserves to be confirmed.

Thank you, Mr. President -- Mr. Chairman.

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