Leahy Steers FBI Director Nomination Through Judiciary Committee

[ProSense]

Leahy Steers FBI Director Nomination Through Judiciary Committee

Comey To Be Considered Next By Full Senate

July 18, 2013

WASHINGTON – Led by Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of James Comey to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The nomination, which was unanimously approved on a bipartisan 18-0 vote, now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

Comey was nominated last month by President Barack Obama to replace outgoing FBI Director Robert Mueller, who has served in the post since 2001 and whose term ends in early September. Comey testified before the Judiciary Committee July 9 for his confirmation hearing, and he has previously been confirmed unanimously to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Deputy Attorney General under President George W. Bush.

“Few positions have as much impact on our liberty and national security as the Director of the FBI,” Leahy said. “Mr. Comey has had an outstanding career in law enforcement, and if confirmed, I expect he will lead the Bureau with an independent voice. This is a vital national security post, and prompt action has been a priority for the Committee. I hope the Senate will follow the Committee’s bipartisan example and approve this important nomination before the August recess.”

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http://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/leahy-steers-fbi-director-nomination-through-judiciary-committee

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1. pttthhhhhhhhhhhhh

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/07/09-5

The final stain on Comey's record was his full-throated defense of the indefinite military detention of an American citizen arrested on American soil. In a June 2004 press conference, Comey told of Jose Padilla, an alleged al-Qaida member accused of plotting to detonate a dirty bomb as well as blow up apartment buildings in an American city. By working for al-Qaida, Padilla, Comey argued, could be deprived of a lawyer and indefinitely detained as an enemy combatant on a military brig off the South Carolina coast for the purpose of extracting intelligence out of him.

It turned out that Padilla was never charged with the list of crimes and criminal associations pinned on him by Comey that day. When Padilla was finally convicted – in a federal court – in August 2007, it wasn't for plotting dirty bomb attacks or blowing up apartment buildings. Rather, he was convicted of material support of terrorism overseas. During his indefinite military detention, Padilla was tortured.