Reid: Mukasey Vote Before Thanksgiving

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday he expects a confirmation vote on the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next attorney general before Thanksgiving, although he declined to set a date.

Mukasey’s nomination passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning 11-8, with Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Charles Schumer of New York joining all nine committee Republicans in supporting the retired federal judge.

Reid also announced he'll oppose the nomination because of Mukasey’s failure to declare the interrogation technique known as “waterboarding” as torture.

Reid criticized Mukasey as well for being “evasive” on a practice that Reid said was clearly illegal.

“We have executed people for waterboarding Americans,” Reid said.

The majority leader also said he was “profoundly disturbed” by some of Mukasey’s statements concerning executive power.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called for a vote on Mukasey this week, saying: “This process has gone on long enough.”

Mukasey's confirmation by the full Senate still appears on track, but it looks like Mukasey will have to wait a bit longer.