by James Oliphant
Two names to file away as the White House's search for Alberto Gonzales' replacement moves forward:
The first is Judge William "Billy" Wilkins, the former chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Wilkins recently took senior status on the court, to which he was appointed by Ronald Reagan in 1986. A South Carolinian, he was suggested for the vacant attorney general position by Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C.).
Graham backed Wilkins' candidacy today on CBS' Face the Nation. Interestingly, Wilkins also drew a cautious endorsement from Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) on the same program. Both Graham and Biden are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would take up the nomination once one is made.
The second name is George J. Terwilliger III, a former deputy attorney general from the George H. W. Bush administration. Terwilliger, who practices now with the powerhouse international firm White & Case, would fit the "Robert Gates" model, a low-muss, low-fuss hand from the days of Bush I.
Terwilliger has the sort of law enforcement background observers say is critical if Gonzales' successor is to mend fences with a dispiritied rank and file within the Justice Department; he worked as a front-line federal prosecutor for more than a decade and was a driving force in the investigation of the infamous Bank of Credit and Commerce International in the late 1980s. He does present some partisan sticking points, as he served as lead counsel for George W. Bush's legal team in the Florida recount in 2000.
Perhaps that's why Biden on Face the Nation today said Terwilliger would be unacceptable. He said the same of former Bush solicitor general Theodore Olson and current Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. The president isn't expected to name his choice until he returns from Austrailia later this month.
• 
• 
• 
Comments
What about Bush friend Bill Clinton? Oh, that's right. He was disbarred.
Posted by: Ogden | September 2, 2007 7:26 PM
This is different from other appointments how???
Posted by: lochnessmonster | September 2, 2007 7:44 PM
"This is different from other appointments how???"
Only that the nominee has to be approved by the Senate. Which is now controlled by the Democrats. That old advise and consent stuff. The previous Congresses just used the old Rubber Stamp for just about any crony Bush could dredge up.
Anyone who aided and abetted the seizure of the White House in 2000 by this gang of crooks should be off the table.
Posted by: athena | September 2, 2007 10:10 PM
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina wants Wilkins? Oh, no. This only proves to me what a twit Graham is.
Wilkins is the same guy who is currently the Chief Judge of the United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. They're the group who think the President should be able to hold American citizens indefinitely on American soil as enemy combatants.
He'll be perfect - but only if you want more of Duh'bya's police state until January of 2009.
Posted by: John W. | September 2, 2007 10:39 PM
"Earlier today, after months of scandals and political pressure, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced he's going to resign. Gonzales said, 'There comes a time when a man should resign, and that time for me was last January.'" --Conan O'Brien
"Alberto Gonzales is stepping down, but he can't recall why." --David Letterman
Posted by: John E | September 3, 2007 12:05 AM
John W.,
Thanks for that info.
Posted by: Doug Zook | September 3, 2007 12:33 PM
How about Cheney's friend Scooter Libby? Oh, that's right - he was disbarred.
Posted by: BC | September 3, 2007 1:33 PM
Well how about Hillary's buddy Web ? Oh, that is right, he is a convicted felon.
We can play this game all day.
Posted by: Andy | September 4, 2007 1:21 PM