Specter On Mukasey

Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said Democrats shouldn't confirmation hearing for the next attorney general as leverage to unearth additional information in the investigation of nine fired U.S. attorneys.

"It is very much in the national interest now to move ahead with the confirmation," Specter said during a brief press conference Monday morning.

Specter will be a key advocate for the White House in the confirmation of retired federal judge Michael Mukasey to replace outgoing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in the top spot at the Justice Department.

"In the nation’s history, I don’t think the Justice Department has been in such disarray," Specter said, in reference to the number of high-level job openings.

The big question as the confirmation process moves forward is what, if any, role the investigation into the firing of nine federal prosecutors will play in Mukasey's confirmation.