John Edwards issued a statement yesterday on the Mukasey nomination:
The Justice Department's reputation has been terribly tarnished by former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez and the Bush administration's disregard for the law and its partisan influence over law enforcement. Now more than ever, all Americans would agree that it's time for new leadership at the Justice Department.
It may be that the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey turns a new page, but many questions still need to be asked and answered. I am hopeful that Judge Mukasey will commit to ensuring that the Justice Department remains independent of any further attempts at political manipulation by the Bush administration. Either way, as the confirmation hearings move forward, we need to hear more about how Judge Mukasey will repair the serious damage caused by his predecessors.
It may be that the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey turns a new page, but many questions still need to be asked and answered. I am hopeful that Judge Mukasey will commit to ensuring that the Justice Department remains independent of any further attempts at political manipulation by the Bush administration. Either way, as the confirmation hearings move forward, we need to hear more about how Judge Mukasey will repair the serious damage caused by his predecessors.
(Chapel Hill, NC 9/17/2007)
Repairing this damage will take more than simply installing an Attorney General who, by most accounts, at least is unlikely to completely disregard the U.S. Constitution. It will require an Attorney General committed to investigating the recent criminal misconduct of DOJ officials, and bringing to justice those responsible for this misconduct. Senators must not accept reassuring platitudes from the Judge during his confirmation hearings. Rather, they must insist that the nominee go on record as firmly opposing the baseless assertion of executive privilege, the absurdity of a fourth Cheney branch of government, and any type of improper political interference with the judicial branch from the RNC or the White House. Mukasey should be asked to answer this simple question: "Given the choice between a potential failure to successfully protect against all hypotetical terrorist threats, and the certainty of violating someone's constitutionally guaranteed rights, will you always decide in favor of defending our civil liberties?" I don't care if Sen. Chuck Schumer thinks this guy is the best thing since sliced bread, if he can't give a clear answer to this question he shouldn't serve as Attorney General.
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