November 14, 2007
Bush Takes Swipe Over Gonzales Again As Mukasey Sworn In
President Bush could not resist expressing his anger at the unceremonious way in which longtime confidante Alberto Gonzales was disposed from his job -- even as the man who replaced him as U.S. attorney general, Michael Mukasey, was just feet away for his own formal swearing-in.
"Our new attorney general, Michael Mukasey, follows in the footsteps of a fine man and fine American, Al Gonzales," Bush said, as Mukasey and Chief Justice John Roberts stood by for the ceremony. "As White House counsel and attorney general in my administration, Al Gonzales worked tirelessly to make this country safer and to ensure all Americans receive equal justice in the eyes of the law," the president continued, thanking Gonzales and his family for their "service to our nation."
Few in Washington share Bush's high opinion of Gonzales, however, which is the reason why the former AG resigned in late August after months of bipartisan calls for his ouster. Bush has apparently not gotten over the slight to his longtime friend and to his own judgment. When he announced Mukasey's nomination in September, he also took time from praising his pick to indirectly chide critics over Gonzales.
Mukasey has officially been on the job since Friday, the first time Roberts swore him in. Since then, DOJ has made one announcement that has pleased Bush critics, though it's unclear if it was at Mukasey's direction. The department's internal investigative arm informed Congress yesterday that a probe of the Bush administration's wireless surveillance program would resume. According to a letter sent to Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., DOJ attorneys have finally been granted the necessary security clearances they'd been seeking since last year.
"Judge Mukasey understands the challenges facing this nation in a time of war," Bush said of the new attorney general. "He has written wisely on matters of constitutional law and national security. He knows how to [fight the war on terror] in a manner that is consistent with our laws and Constitution."
That last statement is somewhat in dispute, and threatened to derail what was expected to be a smooth-sailing confirmation. Mukasey's refusal to state that waterboarding, or simulated drowning, is an illegal interrogation tactic prompted most Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats to vote against him. But Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein stuck by Mukasey, citing the need to install a competent attorney general ASAP. Mukasey was approved 53-40 on the Senate floor last Thursday.
Mukasey has promised to address all interrogation tactics used by American intelligence officers, including waterboarding, upon taking the helm at DOJ. At issue are a couple of secret internal memos authorizing such controversial techniques, which key Senate committee members say they have never been privy to.
Bush said that tomorrow he would announce his picks, "in consultation with the attorney general," for top DOJ position that were vacated during the U.S. attorney firings scandal.
"Michael Mukasey has my complete trust and confidence, and he's going to have the trust and confidence of the men and women of the Department of Justice," Bush said, delivering the latest of several badly needed pep talks at the downtrodden DOJ. "The people here are good people, hardworking Americans. From headquarters to the U.S. attorneys offices to remote posts overseas, these fine Americans are working to keep Americans safe."
Photo Illustration: Reuben Dalke
Posted at 11:38 AM
Posted to:
Alberto Gonzales, Attorney Scandal, Bush Administration, Congress, Michael Mukasey, President Bush, Senate
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