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Mukasey promises independent justice
By Randall Mikkelsen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General Michael Mukasey pledged to evenhandedly apply the U.S. Constitution on Wednesday as he takes over a Justice Department accused of trampling on civil liberties to fight terrorism under his predecessor.
Just days after Mukasey was confirmed by the Senate last week and began work, the Justice Department said it was proceeding with an investigation into a warrantless domestic wiretapping program launched by President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks.
Many Democrats have called the program illegal and unconstitutional, and a federal court ruling against it was overturned on appeal. But Bush had stalled the department's probe by refusing to grant security clearances for investigators.
The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility told Congress on Tuesday that "we recently received the clearances and are now able to proceed."
Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate voted heavily against Mukasey's confirmation last week, but failed to block it. Opponents cited concerns over Mukasey's ability to maintain independence from the White House on issues such as the legality of tactics in the war on terrorism, including the simulated drowning interrogation technique known as "waterboarding."
Mukasey said at a ceremonial swearing-in on Wednesday he wanted to go beyond his formal oath and offer a pledge: "To continue to protect the freedom and the security of the people of this country and their civil rights and liberties through the neutral and evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it."
Bush also spoke, saying Mukasey "must ensure that we do everything within the law to defend the security of all Americans, while at the same time protecting the liberty of all Americans."
Mukasey succeeded longtime Bush friend Alberto Gonzales, who resigned amid charges he had overly politicized the Justice Department and lied to Congress. Continued...
continued at : http://www.reuters.com/article/polit...18620720071114
By Randall Mikkelsen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General Michael Mukasey pledged to evenhandedly apply the U.S. Constitution on Wednesday as he takes over a Justice Department accused of trampling on civil liberties to fight terrorism under his predecessor.
Just days after Mukasey was confirmed by the Senate last week and began work, the Justice Department said it was proceeding with an investigation into a warrantless domestic wiretapping program launched by President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks.
Many Democrats have called the program illegal and unconstitutional, and a federal court ruling against it was overturned on appeal. But Bush had stalled the department's probe by refusing to grant security clearances for investigators.
The Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility told Congress on Tuesday that "we recently received the clearances and are now able to proceed."
Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate voted heavily against Mukasey's confirmation last week, but failed to block it. Opponents cited concerns over Mukasey's ability to maintain independence from the White House on issues such as the legality of tactics in the war on terrorism, including the simulated drowning interrogation technique known as "waterboarding."
Mukasey said at a ceremonial swearing-in on Wednesday he wanted to go beyond his formal oath and offer a pledge: "To continue to protect the freedom and the security of the people of this country and their civil rights and liberties through the neutral and evenhanded application of the Constitution and the laws enacted under it."
Bush also spoke, saying Mukasey "must ensure that we do everything within the law to defend the security of all Americans, while at the same time protecting the liberty of all Americans."
Mukasey succeeded longtime Bush friend Alberto Gonzales, who resigned amid charges he had overly politicized the Justice Department and lied to Congress. Continued...
continued at : http://www.reuters.com/article/polit...18620720071114
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