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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mukasey nomination goes forward | Mukasey nomination goes forward |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A US Senate committee has approved Michael Mukasey as attorney general despite his refusal to denounce simulated drowning as unlawful torture. | A US Senate committee has approved Michael Mukasey as attorney general despite his refusal to denounce simulated drowning as unlawful torture. |
| The panel sent President George W Bush's nomination of the retired judge to the full Senate, where it is expected to be confirmed next week. | The panel sent President George W Bush's nomination of the retired judge to the full Senate, where it is expected to be confirmed next week. |
| Mr Bush's selection of Mr Mukasey to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales initially drew broad support. | Mr Bush's selection of Mr Mukasey to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales initially drew broad support. |
| But Mr Mukasey stirred controversy over remarks on so-called water-boarding. | But Mr Mukasey stirred controversy over remarks on so-called water-boarding. |
| The US has not said whether it uses the controversial interrogation technique. | The US has not said whether it uses the controversial interrogation technique. |
| 'Repugnant' | 'Repugnant' |
| The Judiciary Committee voted to advance Mr Mukasey's nomination by 11 votes against eight. | The Judiciary Committee voted to advance Mr Mukasey's nomination by 11 votes against eight. |
| All of the Republicans on the Committee voted in favour of Mr Mukasey, while all but two of the Democrats on the panel opposed the nomination. | |
| The support of the two Democrats - Senators Charles Schumer and Barbara Boxer - was crucial in allowing Mr Mukasey's nomination to go forward. | |
| "If we block Judge Mukasey's nomination and then learn in six months that water-boarding has continued unabated, that victory will seem much less valuable, " wrote Senator Schumer. | |
| Mr Mukasey, 66, has presided over a number of high-profile terror trials and is seen as an independent-minded conservative. | |
| But he provoked criticism from Democrats during his confirmation hearing by saying he was not familiar with water-boarding and could not say if it was torture. | But he provoked criticism from Democrats during his confirmation hearing by saying he was not familiar with water-boarding and could not say if it was torture. |
| He later sought to allay concerns with a letter calling water-boarding "repugnant". | He later sought to allay concerns with a letter calling water-boarding "repugnant". |
| The technique simulates drowning by immobilising a prisoner with his head lower than his feet and pouring water over his face. | The technique simulates drowning by immobilising a prisoner with his head lower than his feet and pouring water over his face. |
| Mr Mukasey is set to fill the vacancy created when former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales resigned amid allegations that his department had become overly politicised. |