CQ TODAY PRINT EDITION
– LEGAL AFFAIRS
April 20, 2009 – 8:25 p.m.
Republicans May Filibuster OLC Nominee
By Seth Stern, CQ Staff
Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said Monday that a filibuster of the nominee to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel is “under consideration.”
The nominee, Dawn Johnsen, an Indiana University law professor, has come under fire from conservatives because of her criticism of the OLC’s conduct during the George W. Bush administration and for her past work for abortion rights groups.
Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Monday that he has not yet made up his mind on the nomination even after meeting privately with Johnsen. He did not state a position when the committee took up the nomination last month. When asked whether he would support a filibuster, Specter said, “That’s under consideration.”
The Senate confirmed three other assistant attorneys general Monday: Lanny A. Breuer, Tony West and Christine Anne Varney to head the Justice Department’s criminal, civil, and antitrust divisions, respectively.
Comments
Please correct your headline. In the body of the article, Senator Spector is quoted as saying that his support for a filibuster is "under consideration," not that the filibuster itself is under consideration. CQ has an ethical obligation to correct this error. Oh, and Spector is doomed. His seat will go to a Democrat in 2010 (and good riddance).
This is one of the few news stories I've seen about the Dawn Johnsen nomination. Why does there seem to be a news blackout about this? The GOP is getting away with murder because no one realizes what they're up to. They're opposed to her because she's made clear statements in support of the rule of law. How outrageous, I know.
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