Arlen Specter: “I know it was received by White House personnel, and we communicated, staff to staff, about it, and that is a binding…”

“I know it was received by White House personnel, and we communicated, staff to staff, about it, and that is a binding commitment. That commitment, in conjunction with Judge Mukasey's response to my questioning--I asked him if the President of the United States ignored his advice as Attorney General if and when confirmed on a matter of serious import, would Judge Mukasey resign as Attorney General, just as Attorney General Elliot Richardson had resigned on the Saturday Night Massacre when efforts were made to stop the investigation of President Nixon at that time, and Judge Mukasey said he would resign. So, I think we have a very solid record. Now, I do believe there were reasons Judge Mukasey did not express a judgment on waterboarding as being torture, although candidly it would have been my preference if he had done so and if he had agreed with my vote on the subject. But, Judge Mukasey said in written responses that he believed he could not make that pronouncement without placing people at risk to be sued or perhaps even criminally prosecuted.”