Acting Justice Official Withdraws Name

Jun 22, 08:13 PM

Current Headlines: Acting Associate Attorney General William Mercer Friday withdrew from the confirmation process, saying he would be unlikely to win U.S. Senate approval.

Mercer was named to the Justice Department's third-ranking position in September and has served there and as U.S. attorney in Montana simultaneously. He plans to remain in the Montana job, CNN reported.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who chairs the Judiciary Committee, accused the Bush administration of trying to avoid more questions in the scandal over the firing of U.S. attorneys.

The White House has found many ways to keep sunlight from reaching some of the darker corners of the Bush Justice Department, but this is a new one, Leahy said. With a confirmation hearing looming next Tuesday they have withdrawn this nomination to avoid having to answer more questions under oath.