This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7048695.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Bush nominee faces Senate panel Bush nominee faces Senate panel
(about 22 hours later)
Confirmation hearings are due to begin in the Senate for President George W Bush's nominee for Attorney General, Michael Mukasey. A Senate committee has begun a confirmation hearing for President George W Bush's nominee for Attorney General, Michael Mukasey.
A retired federal judge, Mr Mukasey, 66, has presided over a number of high-profile terror trials and is seen as an independent-minded conservative.A retired federal judge, Mr Mukasey, 66, has presided over a number of high-profile terror trials and is seen as an independent-minded conservative.
He is expected to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would act independently of the White House. He promised the Senate Judiciary Committee he would steer clear of partisan politics in his decisions.
If confirmed, he will replace Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in August.If confirmed, he will replace Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in August.
With Democratic and Republican members of the committee giving him pre-hearing endorsements, his confirmation seems all but assured, says the BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Washington.With Democratic and Republican members of the committee giving him pre-hearing endorsements, his confirmation seems all but assured, says the BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in Washington.
Partisan politics plays no part in either the bringing of charges or the timing of charges Michael Mukasey Profile: Michael Mukasey
Under questioning by committee chairman Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, Mr Mukasey promised an independent pursuit of justice.
"Legal decisions and the progress of cases are decided by facts and law, not by interests and motives," Mr Mukasey said.
"Partisan politics plays no part in either the bringing of charges or the timing of charges," he said.
Mr Mukasey also repudiated a 2002 Justice Department memo - later overridden - saying the president could issue orders that violate the Geneva Conventions as well as international and US laws prohibiting torture.
The memo "was worse than a sin, it was a mistake. It was unnecessary", Mr Mukasey said.
'Clear-eyed''Clear-eyed'
Mr Mukasey's on-the-record answers to questions about interrogation techniques, phone tapping and other controversial issues will be closely scrutinised during the hearing. Mr Mukasey's on-the-record answers to questions about interrogation techniques, phone tapping and other controversial issues will be closely scrutinised.
Profile: Michael Mukasey
A copy of his prepared remarks, obtained by the Associated Press news agency, suggests he will say that protecting civil liberties is as much a part of protecting national security as is as gathering intelligence "to defend us from those who believe it is their duty to make war on us".
"We have to succeed at both," he is expected to say.
At the time of Mr Mukasey's nomination, Mr Bush said he had the right qualifications for the job and was "clear-eyed about the threat our nation faces".At the time of Mr Mukasey's nomination, Mr Bush said he had the right qualifications for the job and was "clear-eyed about the threat our nation faces".
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York, a member of the committee and a persistent critic of Alberto Gonzales, said at the time that he saw Mr Mukasey as someone with whom he could do business.Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York, a member of the committee and a persistent critic of Alberto Gonzales, said at the time that he saw Mr Mukasey as someone with whom he could do business.
Mr Gonzales resigned after months of pressure over his role in the firing of federal prosecutors.Mr Gonzales resigned after months of pressure over his role in the firing of federal prosecutors.
The hearing was to continue on Thursday.