WASHINGTON — Sen. Ken Salazar announced today that he would vote against President Bush’s nominee for U.S. attorney general because he refuses to oppose an interrogation technique that mimics drowning.
Salazar said he questioned Michael Mukasey privately Tuesday and was “deeply troubled” by the Justice Department nominee’s response when asked how he would react to a government request to use waterboarding in an interrogation setting.
According to Salazar, Mukasey said his reaction would depend on whether there was an intent to cause pain.
“That answer is unacceptable. Waterboarding is torture,” Salazar said in a conference call today with reporters. “This is not a complex issue. It is not open to interpretation.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Mukasey’s nomination Tuesday 11-8, with the support of two Democrats.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently announced his opposition to Mukasey, but many analysts expect the Senate to confirm the judge after an emotional floor debate.
A spokesperson for Republican Sen. Wayne Allard, Steve Wymer, said today that his boss “thought very highly” of Mukasey but would not make up his mind about confirmation until a private meeting with him later this week.
The former U.S. attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, resigned in September.
