The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-8 on Tuesday to approve the nomination of Michael B. Mukasey as U.S. Attorney General.
Most Democrats voted against Mukasey. But Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) sided with Republicans to advance the nomination.
Mukasey, a former federal judge, faced questions about his views on the legality of torture. Feinstein and Schumer were concerned but said it was more important to install a leader at the Department of Justice, which has suffered a round of scandals and leadership issues.
Get the Story:Mukasey Bid Survives Division on Senate Panel (The Washington Post 11/7)
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Senate Committee Approves Mukasey Nomination (The New York Times 11/7)
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