Reuters
November 9, 2007
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michael Mukasey took office as attorney
general on Friday, the Justice Department said, after the
Senate confirmed him despite concerns about his stance on
torture.
Mukasey, 66, takes over as chief U.S. law enforcement officer
and succeeds Alberto Gonzales, who was resigned under bipartisan
pressure in September with critics questioning his competency
and honesty.
Senate lawmakers initially praised Mukasey, predicting the
retired judge and former prosecutor would renew confidence
in a scandal-rocked Justice Department.
But many Democrats turned against him after he declined to
denounce as illegal torture an interrogation technique that
involves simulated drowning, known as waterboarding.
Enough Democrats joined Republicans to approve Mukasey's nomination
Thursday night by a vote of 53-40.
Mukasey took the oath of office after flying down from New
York, Justice spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said. He was expected
to receive briefings on national security and wiretapping before
heading home for the weekend.
He will start full-time next Tuesday, Roehrkasse said.
A District Court judge in New York for 18 years, Mukasey presided
over a number of high-profile cases, including the 1993 bombing
of the World Trade Center.
In a more recent case, Mukasey found that the government had
a right to hold U.S. citizen Jose Padilla as an enemy combatant
without charging him with a crime, but ordered the administration
to allow Padilla to meet with a lawyer.
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