Attorney General Nominee Wouldn't Shield Journalists

Attorney General nominee Michael Mukasey, a 66-year-old retired federal judge, has issued statements saying that he will not tolerate Executive Branch meddling in Justice Department affairs and he does not support the use of torture in the interrogation of terrorist suspects.

But he also indicated that he does not support the proposed shield law that would allow journalists to keep their sources confidential. Mukasey believes that it’s easier to correct procedures internally when necessary than to reverse legislation that’s “etched in stone,” and said he believes that the Justice Department’s procedures have been effective so far with regard to interrogations.

President Bush has threatened to veto the shield law bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the House this past week.