[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 39 (Monday, March 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            LYNCH NOMINATION

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, a few minutes ago I was talking about why I 
had hoped that after 121 days we could finally have a vote on the 
confirmation of Loretta Lynch to be Attorney General. She has been 
supported by leading Republicans and Democrats. She has been supported 
by Republicans and Democrats in law enforcement, especially in light of 
her very tough enforcement of terrorism laws. On the issue of abuse of 
public trust, she has prosecuted both Democrats and Republicans.
  I mentioned a few minutes ago that when George W. Bush was in the 
last two years of his term, he was a lameduck President and Democrats 
had just taken over control of the Senate. The President nominated 
Judge Mukasey to be Attorney General. Because I disagreed with Judge 
Mukasey on the question of torture, I told the President I would vote 
against him, but I also told him that any President has a right to at 
least have a vote on their nominees. I moved him forward in 53 days--
that is from the time his nomination was announced until he was 
confirmed. And that includes the time it took for the paperwork to get 
up here and the rest of the process. I put him through the committee, 
got him onto the floor, and he was confirmed in 53 days.
  Now we have been waiting 121 days for Loretta Lynch, who came to the 
Judiciary Committee with far more law enforcement background. I don't 
know what the difference is between this man, Judge Mukasey, who took 
53 days and Loretta Lynch.
  In fact, I will give you another Attorney General nominee I also 
disagreed with and voted against, but who I, as chairman, helped bring 
to a vote. President Bush nominated John Ashcroft--a former Senator who 
had just been defeated--to be Attorney General. I put him through in 42 
days--42 days from the time his nomination was announced until he was 
confirmed. Forty-two days.
  So Ashcroft went through in 42 days. Judge Mukasey went through in 53 
days. Loretta Lynch has waited 121 days.
  I was involved with the nominations of these two men even though I 
disagreed with them. When Republicans took back control of the Senate 
there was another Attorney General in between who took 86 days. But for 
the two men when I was Chairman: 42 days for John Ashcroft; 53 days for 
Judge Mukasey. But Loretta Lynch has been waiting 121 days and still 
hasn't had a vote. Is it any wonder that people have concern about the 
U.S. Senate when she has to wait all that time just to get a vote up or 
down? Up or down, that is all we ask. So let's hope she can be 
scheduled, voted on and confirmed because with her record as a tough 
prosecutor, that is the sort of person I would like cracking down on 
terrorists, cracking down on those who defraud this country, cracking 
down on traffickers, as she has in the past.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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