Jeff Bingaman: “When the roll is called on the nomination of John Ashcroft to Attorney General of the United States, I will vote ``no.''…”

“When the roll is called on the nomination of John Ashcroft to Attorney General of the United States, I will vote ``no.'' The position of Attorney General is not comparable to other Cabinet positions. As head of the Department of Justice, the Attorney General has enormous independent responsibility and authority, neither of which is subject directly to direction by the President. The Attorney General also has enormous discretion in choosing where to use the power to prosecute and when to go to court to assert the rights of the People. Historically, the Attorney General is the officer who has enforced the Voting Rights Act and the other civil rights laws which have transformed our nation for the better in the last half century. Given the great power which has been lodged in this office, it is important that the American people have confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the occupant of that office. It is clear to me that many in our country lack that confidence in John Ashcroft. His past actions and statements raise legitimate concerns about how he would carry out the duties of Attorney General. It is those legitimate concerns that lead me to oppose his nomination.”