Pete Domenici: “I am very fortunate. I did not plan it this way, but I was here for most of what Senator Lieberman had to say. I am very…”

“I am very fortunate. I did not plan it this way, but I was here for most of what Senator Lieberman had to say. I am very glad I had that opportunity. Even though I have never been a member of the Judiciary Committee, I am a lawyer, although I have not practiced for a long time, but I am very pleased I had a chance to listen to an analysis given by the Senator with reference to the memos and what might be taken from them in terms of what it means if we nominate, if we accept his nomination or send him signals about what we think about torture. Does that mean because he was involved in all of this activity at a time of turmoil, when there were a lot of things we did not know, a lot of legal definitions had not yet been completely determined, that are still out there being litigated and discussed, that he is disqualified from being a good Attorney General? That is hogwash. As a plain, simple person looking at this, I say: What if I were a lawyer and I decided that the law meant A, B, C, D and that was logical, there were legal opinions and a lot of people supporting it, but after the fact things occurred, and D, E, F said that wasn't right. Does that mean whatever you said was right, as a matter of law? Does it mean since that is not what the court says, you are not a good lawyer, or in some way that disqualifies you from a job? We have lawyers arguing against each other with legal briefs that have innumerable citations supporting a position.…”