WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- Two key members of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sunday outlined qualities they want in the next U.S. attorney general, but didn't throw out any names.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said on "Fox News Sunday" he would like President George W. Bush to put political ideology aside and pick an attorney general to replace Alberto Gonzales who is the "best man or woman who can run the place, restore a sense of commitment and restore the sense of integrity to the Department of Justice."
"I think if he were to do that, you would hear a huge sigh of relief from both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate," Leahy said.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said the president "ought to select a real professional," not a political "yes-man."
"Somebody who understands the difference between being the president's lawyer and being the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, who has a duty to the American people, in addition to being a Cabinet officer," Specter said. "I think he ought to select somebody who'd give him some candid, frank, forceful advice on what's constitutional."
