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Dems Slam Ashcroft for 'Backroom' $52M Contract

Mar 11, 2008 4:22 PM CDT

Dems Slam Ashcroft for 'Backroom' $52M Contract

Ex-AG denies charges in House hearing

(Newser) - John Ashcroft angrily denied congressional Democrats' allegations today that a lucrative no-bid contract the Justice Department awarded him represents a conflict of interest, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Democrats characterized the contract as a “backroom sweetheart deal” because Ashcroft's ex-subordinates selected his firm to monitor a medical supply company...

Corporate America Revels in Spitzer's Fall

Mar 11, 2008 9:40 AM CDT

Corporate America Revels in Spitzer's Fall

Schadenfreude strikes onetime targets of 'Sheriff of Wall Street'

(Newser) - Wall Street is reveling in the fall of Eliot Spitzer, who as AG made exposing corruption highly personal, reports the Wall Street Journal. "He actually believes he's above the law," says ex-NYSE director Ken Langone, whom Spitzer sued for paying too much to the Big Board's CEO. "...

Jailed Ex-Gov Wants Special Counsel

Feb 26, 2008 8:47 AM CST

Jailed Ex-Gov Wants Special Counsel

Siegelman seeks probe after '60 Minutes' report; Rove denies role

(Newser) - Lawyers for Jim Siegelman want an outside investigator to look into charges that GOP operatives railroaded the ex-governor of Alabama on bribery charges, reports the AP. "60 Minutes" reported Sunday that prosecutors met over 70 times with the aide that helped put Siegelman behind bars, and had him write...

Stalling Spy Bill Hurts Intel, Admin Asserts

Feb 23, 2008 8:45 AM CST

Stalling Spy Bill Hurts Intel, Admin Asserts

Letter pushes House Dems to pass new wiretapping rules

(Newser) - As House Dems refuse to pass the Senate’s wiretapping bill, the administration is heaping more pressure on them to change their minds, reports Muckraker. A letter to the House intelligence committee from top administration officials claims that the failure to pass the bill is causing “lost intelligence information”...

Spitzer Slams Bush for Abetting Bad Lenders

OPINION

Feb 14, 2008 12:12 PM CST

Spitzer Slams Bush for Abetting Bad Lenders

Says feds barred states from halting predators

(Newser) - The Bush administration was a “willing accomplice” to predatory lending practices that cost thousands of Americans their homes and endangered our economy, Eliot Spitzer writes in the Washington Post. When state attorneys general (including Spitzer at the time) tried to act against a spike in deceptive and even illegal...

Senate Grills Mukasey
Today on Waterboarding

Jan 30, 2008 3:43 AM CST

Senate Grills Mukasey Today on Waterboarding

Mukasey warns he'll stonewall on questions about legality

(Newser) - A high-noon face off is looming today between Attorney General Michael Mukasey and the Senate Judiciary Committee over waterboarding, the simulated drowning interrogation technique that many consider torture. Committee chair Patrick Leahy said Mukasey faces "serious questions" on the issue at today's hearing. But Mukasey has warned Leahy in...

Will Edwards Be Obama's AG?

Jan 27, 2008 5:15 PM CST

Will Edwards Be Obama's AG?

His camp denies the rumor; either way, 3rd-place finisher stays in race

(Newser) - He doesn't have a single primary win yet, but as John Edwards continues his bid for the presidency, rumors are swirling that the trial lawyer is more likely to end up as attorney general in an Obama administration. "Illinois Democrats" have been quietly circulating the rumor, claims Robert Novak,...

At Mukasey Ceremony, Bush Vows Justice Makeover

Nov 14, 2007 11:15 AM CST

At Mukasey Ceremony, Bush Vows Justice Makeover

New Attorney General brings 'clear purpose and resolve'

(Newser) - President Bush looked on as Michael Mukasey was ceremonially sworn in today as attorney general today, the AP reports, and promised to rebuild the ravaged Justice Department behind him. “Michael Mukasey has my complete trust and confidence,” Bush said. “And he's going to have the trust and...

Mukasey Would Enforce New Torture Law, Senator Says

Nov 6, 2007 10:15 AM CST

Mukasey Would Enforce New Torture Law, Senator Says

Schumer helps AG nomination move ahead

(Newser) - Michael Mukasey has told Chuck Schumer he would enforce a law specifically prohibiting waterboarding and other torture practices, the senator writes in today's Times. The AG nominee's personal assurance and respect for the rule of law earned him the New York Democrat’s support in this morning's 11-8 Judiciary Committee...

Mukasey Calls Waterboarding 'Repugnant,' Dodges Legality

Oct 31, 2007 6:09 AM CDT

Mukasey Calls Waterboarding 'Repugnant,' Dodges Legality

AG nominee's 'massive hedge' worries critics

(Newser) - Attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey frustrated senators on both sides of the aisle by again refusing to specify whether he considers waterboarding a form of torture, calling it only "repugnant," CNN reports. "Hypotheticals are different from real life," Mukasey wrote to confirmation committee members yesterday, adding...

Mukasey Hits Resistance
on Torture

Oct 27, 2007 6:47 AM CDT

Mukasey Hits Resistance on Torture

Dems balk over AG nominee's refusal to rule out waterboarding

(Newser) - If AG nominee Michael Mukasey doesn't clarify his views on which interrogation techniques are constitutional, Democratic senators say they may oppose his confirmation. Proceedings that were expected to be smooth sailing ran into trouble this week when Mukasey, who has denounced the use of torture, declined to specify whether he...

Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying

Oct 18, 2007 8:31 PM CDT

Mukasey Silent on Torture, Vocal on Spying

AG nominee's testimony a "massive hedge," says Democratic senator

(Newser) - Michael Mukasey remained mum today on whether interrogation methods such as waterboarding constitute torture. But the president’s nominee for attorney general spoke out in favor of the White House’s eavesdropping program, the NY Times reports, frustrating and confusing Democrats on the second day of his confirmation hearings. Mukasey...

Dems to Grill AG Nominee on Bush's Meddling

Oct 16, 2007 2:05 PM CDT

Dems to Grill AG Nominee on Bush's Meddling

Influence on Justice looms as top Mukasey confirmation issue

(Newser) - Michael Mukasey's confirmation hearings kick off tomorrow, and the focus of senators' questions for the AG nominee is already clear, the Christian Science Monitor reports: Democrats want assurances he’ll be more independent than Alberto Gonzales. Pat Leahy, for one, is looking for agreement that “federal law enforcement should...

NY Targets Facebook Predators

Sep 25, 2007 3:49 AM CDT

NY Targets Facebook Predators

Cuomo probe uncovers sex solicitation and poor response from company

(Newser) - The online social networking site Facebook is becoming a hangout for sexual predators hunting young victims, according to an undercover investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Investigators pretending to be teenagers on Facebook were repeatedly solicited by adult sexual predators, reports Computerworld. But when complaints were filed with...

Mukasey Is
No Gonzales

Sep 23, 2007 12:05 PM CDT

Mukasey Is No Gonzales

Independent AG nominee, a 'serious judge,' could prove a thorn for Bush

(Newser) - Michael Mukasey, President Bush's candidate to succeed embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, has an independent streak that could end up changing the way the Justice Department is run. This could make things sticky for Bush in dealing with the congressional probes into activities under the previous AG's reign, suggests the...

Mukasey Courts the Hill

Sep 18, 2007 5:59 PM CDT

Mukasey Courts the Hill

Attorney general nominee meets with lawmakers to prep for hearings

(Newser) - Mukasey mingled today with the Dems who will make or break his chance at becoming the next attorney general. If they're worried about him taking on the job, none showed it, Bloomberg reports. Even Senator Leahy, who wants the White House to fork over documents on its surveillance program before...

Mukasey Faces Senate Hurdle

Sep 18, 2007 4:10 AM CDT

Mukasey Faces Senate Hurdle

Judiciary Committee is demanding White House documents

(Newser) - The confirmation of former federal judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general may not be the slam dunk the White House expects it to be. Senate Democrats have warned that the Judiciary Committee will delay confirmation unless the administration turns over documents the panel is seeking in several investigations, reports the...

Bush Might Nominate Mukasey

Sep 15, 2007 4:49 PM CDT

Bush Might Nominate Mukasey

Bipartisan favorite on short list of attorney general candidates

(Newser) - A judge nominated by Reagan but endorsed by liberals may be Bush’s pick to replace Alberto Gonzalez, CNN reports. Michael B. Mukasey, 66, a high-profile judge for more than 15 years, is now on the short list of rumored attorney general candidates. Analysts say that Mukasey is ideal for...

Reid Vows to Block Olson
as AG Pick

Sep 13, 2007 5:46 AM CDT

Reid Vows to Block Olson as AG Pick

Majority leader blasts reported Bush favorite as Gonzales 2.0

(Newser) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pledged to stop conservative attorney Ted Olson from becoming attorney general if he's nominated, Reuters reports. The former solicitor general is thought to be President Bush's first choice, but faces stiff opposition from Dems who are pushing for a less partisan figure after Alberto Gonzales'...

Olson May
Be Top Dog
on AG Roster

Sep 12, 2007 1:40 AM CDT

Olson May Be Top Dog on AG Roster

But conservative stalwart would face tough confirmation fight

(Newser) - Conservative stalwart Theodore Olson is the likely top choice to replace Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Reuters reports. The former solicitor general may have a partisan reputation among Democrats—he represented President Bush in the Florida election battle and was accused of trying to dig up anti-Clinton scandals in the 1990s—...