Mukasey collapses while speaking in D.C.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed during a speech in Washington Thursday night, Bush administration officials said.

The officials confirmed that Mukasey, 67, collapsed as he was speaking to the Federalist Society, Politico reported. Details were not immediately available on the cause of the collapse.

Mukasey was about 20 minutes into his speech when he began slurring his words. FBI agents working his security detail rushed to his side before he fell to the stage floor, The Wall Street Journal reported.

As Washington fire department medics carried Mukasey out on a stretcher, the attorney general seemed to be somewhat alert, the Journal said. At one point, he was heard saying he thought he might have fainted.

Mukasey was transported to George Washington University Medical Center and fire department officials said he appeared to be in good condition, the Journal said.

Mukasey, a former federal judge from New York, was named attorney general after the resignation of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He was the featured speaker Thursday at the Federalist Society's 2008 National Lawyers Convention Annual Dinner at the Washington Marriott.

In his speech, Mukasey was offering a defense of the Bush administration's anti-terrorism policies.