Waterboarding Stance May Hurt Mukasey Confirmation

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Retired U.S. District Judge Michael B. Mukasey's nomination as attorney general may have run into unexpected trouble yesterday after his refusal last week to say whether the interrogation practice of waterboarding constituted torture.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, said yesterday their votes hinge on whether the veteran judge will acknowledge that the practice - which simulates drowning - constitutes torture.

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Waterboarding Stance May Hurt Mukasey Confirmation

"It's fair to say my vote would depend on him answering that question," Mr. Leahy said, adding that if the U.S. government "d...

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