Specter Gives Judicial Nominee New Hearing (at Democrats' request)

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT?AP: Specter Gives Judicial Nominee New Hearing
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: May 4, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter on Thursday granted Democrats a hearing to question White House aide and judicial nominee Brett Kavanaugh on his role in the administration's secret wiretapping program, its torture policy and any relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The move put off, for now, a repeat of last year's parliamentary showdown over President Bush's nominees....

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Democrats lauded the decision.

''It's the least that can be done for the nominee to the second highest court in the land and a controversial nominee,'' said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. ''There are a lot of things that have happened since the last hearing, in the administration of which he is a part.''...

Specter said he made the decision in part because of a letter this week from the seven Democrats of the so-called ''Gang of 14'' that mediated the standoff last year. In the letter, the seven pledged to not support a filibuster over Kavanaugh if the panel was allowed to question him again. Specter also presented recommendations for Kavanaugh by two judges for whom he had clerked....

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Senate-Judges.html