WASHINGTON — Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey was rushed to the hospital Thursday night after collapsing and losing consciousness during a speech on the war on terrorism, a Justice Department official said.
Mukasey slumped to the floor near the conclusion of his remarks before the Federalist Society's annual dinner at a northwest Washington hotel, said Peter A. Carr, chief spokesman for the department.
Emergency first aid was rendered by Mukasey's security detail and a doctor on the scene before the attorney general was taken by ambulance to nearby George Washington University Hospital, Carr said.
"The attorney general is conscious, conversant and alert. His vital statistics are strong and he is in good spirits," Carr said in a statement today, two hours after Mukasey collapsed shortly before 10:20 p.m. Eastern. "He is receiving excellent care and appreciates all of the good wishes and prayers he has received. The doctors will keep him overnight for further observations."
Mukasey, a 67-year-old retired federal judge from New York City, was noticeably shaking during the speech at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel before he slumped at the lectern and then collapsed, said another Justice Department official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter.
Some attendees in the first few rows formed a circle around Mukasey to shield him from sight until medics arrived.
President Bush was notified of Mukasey's collapse, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said. "The president has him in his thoughts and will be kept apprised, and hopes that he will be back up and at 'em again soon."
Mukasey became attorney general almost exactly one year ago. He succeeded Alberto R. Gonzales, whose stormy tenure -- marked by criticism that he and his staff had improperly hired and fired lawyers and other officials based on their politics -- ended with his resignation.
Mukasey had enjoyed a stellar reputation as a federal judge in New York, where he presided over significant cases, including the terrorism prosecution of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and 11 codefendants charged with conspiring to blow up numerous sites in the city.
After taking the helm at the Justice Department, Mukasey became a lightning rod for criticism from Democratic lawmakers for his steadfast refusal to say what constitutes torture.
