U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved late today to end debate on the nomination of James Cole for deputy attorney general, a position Cole has held on an interim basis for four months.
Republicans have held up Cole's nomination for the Justice Department’s No. 2 post because of past statements about anti-terrorism efforts, including a column Cole wrote for Legal Times in 2002 that called the Sept. 11 attacks “criminal acts” rather than acts of war. They’ve also questioned his work, while a partner at Bryan Cave, as a corporate monitor for insurance giant American International Group Inc.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Reid said the Senate would vote at 5:30 p.m. on Monday on a motion to invoke “cloture,” or end debate. Reid used the same tactic this week to break a threatened Republican filibuster of judicial nominee John “Jack” McConnell Jr.
President Barack Obama nominated Cole in March 2010 and, amid Republican criticism, gave Cole a recess appointment in late December. Senate confirmation would allow him to serve past 2011.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee that DOJ needs a “full team” in place to pursue the department’s top priorities, including the protection of national security. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) raised Cole’s stalled nomination at the hearing.
Holder said, “We need to have our team in place.” Still, Holder acknowledged that Cole can do “just about everything” — for instance, signing national security warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — even though he’s a recess appointment.
By David Ingram and Mike Scarcella
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