Mukasey confirmed as attorney general

With 18 years on the federal bench and experience as a federal prosecutor and private lawyer, Mukasey impressed lawmakers with his legal acumen and judgment during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. From the start, he was considered a compromise choice by the White House, calculated to avoid a prolonged confirmation battle, and he was recommended by Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of the Senate's most liberal thinkers.

Ultimately, Schumer and Feinstein gave Mukasey the votes needed to move his nomination from the committee to the Senate floor.

Feinstein said Thursday night that Mukasey was being treated unfairly and that her fellow Democrats should focus more on shoring up the embattled Justice Department than "pounding our chests" against torture. She noted that the White House indicated it would not nominate another candidate if the Senate rejected Mukasey.

"Some people, I think, want to keep the issue [of torture] alive rather than solve the problem. I am not one of those people," Feinstein said. "This is the only chance that is going to be offered to put new leadership in the Department of Justice. If you believe it is in disarray, there is only one action to take."

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rick.schmitt@latimes.com