NPR: Would Mukasey Stand Up to White House?

Would Mukasey Stand Up to White House?

President Bush (right) announces his nomination of retired U.S. District Judge Michael Mukasey for attorney general during a news conference last month at the White House.

Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

Washington is preparing for its next political circus: Senate hearings on the nomination of retired U.S. District Judge Michael Mukasey for attorney general are set to begin Wednesday. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that much of the questioning is "expected to focus on whether Mukasey will both ensure the integrity of the Justice Department and stand up to the White House, especially when it comes to terrorism."

One thing that might come up is Mukasey's approval of secret warrants while the chief federal trial judge in Manhattan that allowed the government to round up Muslims following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, has said Democrats shouldn't use the hearings to dig for additional information about the firing of U.S. attorneys by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Specter wants the Democrats to stick to Mukasey's qualifications.

But that's not likely. NPR's senior Washington editor, Ron Elving, told Day to Day's Madeleine Brand that Wednesday will be a long day for the judge, with lots of tough questions. Most, he says, will be about the past — not Mukasey's past, but Gonzales' past — and the Bush administration's relationship with Congress over judicial issues.

But overall, Ron says, it's likely to be smooth sailing for Mukasey in terms of confirmation.

4:04 PM ET | 10-15-2007 | permalink

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