A retired federal judge, Michael Mukasey, was named to replace
Alberto R. Gonzales as the attorney general, President George W.
Bush announced on Monday.
"I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey
to be the 81st attorney general of the United States," Bush said at
the White House around 10:30 AM.
Noting that the attorney general has "an especially vital role
to play in a time of war" and when US face challenges protecting
its people "on a daily basis from deadly enemies," Bush said
Mukasey brings impressive credentials to this task.
The 66-year-old judge, the former chief in the US District Court
for the Southern District of New York, was described by Republicans
as a conservative on counterterrorism issues, such as electronic
surveillance, who has a solid reputation and trust of Bush and his
aids.
"With Mukasey, the Justice Department will be in the hands of a
great lawyer and an accomplished public servant," Bush said,"
Mikehas shown good judgment in the courtroom. He's shown good
judgment outside the courtroom."
"I am, of course, deeply honored to be selected as the nominee
for attorney general of the United States," Mukasey said standing
beside Bush.
"The department faces challenges vastly different from those it
faced when I was an assistant US attorney 35 years ago. But the
principles that guide the department remain the same: to pursue
justice by enforcing the law with unswerving fidelity to the
Constitution," he added.
Mukasey can officially take the office after Congress confirms
his nomination.
The jurist also has rich experience in anti-terrorism through
presiding some of the nations' most high-profile trials of
terrorist suspects. After spending 19 years on the federal bench in
New York, he formed bonds with former mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and
became a member of justice advisory committee for the his
presidential campaign.
Michael was put on table after Senate Democratic Leader Harry
Reid vowed last week to block another top candidate, former US
Solicitor General Theodore Olson, for he being too partisan.
However, Mukasey is expected to be more easily greenlighted in
Congress. Senate Democrats have signaled, as the Washington
Post said on Monday, that they were likely to accept Mukasey
without a big fight and said they saw the pick as a conciliatory
gesture from the White House.
Gonzales resigned late last month from the Justice Department
after he was suspected of lying to Congress on his dismissal of
nine federal prosecutors. Congressional Democrats claimed they had
evidence to show the White House was actually behind the dismissal
but Gonzales denied any wrongdoing.
He officially left his office on Monday.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)
