Democrats Force Delay on Gonzales Vote
WASHINGTON — Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee today forced a one-week delay in consideration of Alberto R. Gonzales to be attorney general, saying he gave overly vague answers to questions about his role in developing administration policy and practices on torture.
Gonzales, who was sharply questioned about administration torture policy at his Jan. 6 confirmation hearing, was assailed today by Democrats for written answers he provided to committee members to follow-up questions.
“These are very arrogant answers,” Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said at a Judiciary Committee meeting, where Democrats used a procedural device to postpone a discussion of the nomination for one week. Kennedy said Gonzales had engaged in “gross non-responsiveness.”
Kennedy said he was troubled by Gonzales’ failure to provide additional documents shedding light on his thinking about administration legal positions on torture and the treatment of military detainees in Iraq and Cuba. Critics say the policies led to widely reported abuses by U.S. military personnel and others.
Kennedy has indicated he may vote against Gonzales. At the hearing, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also expressed reservations about the nominee, whose confirmation is virtually assured by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said he would consider asking the nominee to supplement his answers. He scheduled a new hearing in a week.
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