Mukasey takes heat for Gonzales in hearing

WASHINGTON, July 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey faced the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday, hearing harsh talk about the politicization of the Justice Department.

"Both the president and the nation are best served by a Justice Department that provides sound advice and takes responsible action, not one that develops legalistic loopholes and ideological litmus tests to serve the ends of a particular administration," committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said in his opening remarks.

A series of issues -- warrantless wiretapping, interrogation techniques some consider torture, expansion of executive privilege and accusations of political influence -- at the Justice Department "makes the Watergate era look like child's play," Leahy said.

In his opening statement, Mukasey said he takes allegations of politicization "with the utmost seriousness. It is crucial that we pursue our cases based solely on the law and the American people have complete confidence in the propriety of what we do."

Mukasey succeeded Alberto Gonzales, who resigned in August 2007 after a number of controversies, including department's role in the dismissals of nine U.S. attorneys and allegations that many of the department's divisions were politicized during his tenure.

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