Senate confirms Mukasey for Justice Department

The Senate voted 53-40 on Tuesday to confirm Michael B. Mukasey as U.S. Attorney General.

Six Democrats joined 46 Republicans in voting for Mukasey, a former federal judge from New York. The 40 no votes all came from Democrats and one Independent.

The tally was the lowest for an attorney general since 1952, according to news reports. Democrats expressed doubts about Mukasey's views on torture.

Mukasey inherits the Cobell Indian trust fund lawsuit, the high crime rate in Indian Country, the high rate of violence against Native women and the poor conditions of reservation jail facilities, among other issues.

Get the Story:
Senate Confirms Mukasey By 53-40 (The Washington Post 11/9)
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Mukasey Wins Vote in Senate, Despite Democrats’ Doubts (The New York Times 11/9)
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Roll Call:
On the Nomination (Confirmation Michael B. Mukasey of New York, to be Attorney General) (November 8, 2007)

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