Obama uses recess appointment to seat Justice Dept. official

The Hill ^ | December 29, 2010 | Jordan Fabian

[jazusamo]

President Obama used a recess appointment Wednesday to name James Cole as deputy attorney general.

The president also recess appointed five other officials, including four ambassadors.

Cole's nomination to the second-ranking post at the Department of Justice had been held up over objections from Republicans, who raised concerns over his tenure as an independent monitor of insurance giant AIG between 2005 and 2009. The federal government bailed out the company in 2008.

Republican senators also quibbled with a 2002 report that Cole wrote advocating civilian trials for terror suspects. Republicans have objected to trials in civilian courts for any of the detainees held in Guantanamo Bay as well as others accused of acts of terror.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) attempted to confirm Cole by unanimous consent during the lame-duck session, by GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) objected.

While the recess appointment allows Obama to fill a key spot at the Department of Justice, Cole will have to be renominated and confirmed by the end of the next session of Congress. That could be tougher given the larger GOP minority in the next Senate.

Cole is a partner at the firm Bryan Cave LLP and previously served as a Justice Department official between 1979 and 1992. He worked on former President Bill Clinton's transition team in 1992.

Obama also appointed Norm Eisen, the former White House ethics adviser, as the U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic.

Eisen co-founded the non-profit watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and worked on the Obama transition team.

The president also appointed the public printer of the United States and ambassadors to Syria, Turkey and Azerbaijan.

[sergeantdave]

“Republican senators also quibbled...”

And I have quibbles over whether “The Hill” is a communist propaganda sheet.

[Thank You Rush]

Excellent points. You are absolutely correct. I believe Article II, Section II of the Constitution covers your second point.....vacancies must HAPPEN during the recess. I was going to look this up as soon as I finished dinner but forgot when I came to the computer. I have no clue why this has ever been allowed. I think it’s time to make an issue of this with our representatives....

Maybe they’ll discover this when they read the Constitution next week!!!! But if not - it won’t hurt to remind them...

[smokingfrog]

If Cole is confirmed, then he will enter an office that must tackle some of the thorniest political issues currently facing the country: how to properly close Guantanamo Bay detention center and whether to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM) in a civilian court. One possible confirmation hurdle is work as a government-appointed attorney monitoring insurance giant AIG's business practices starting in 2004. AIG paid his firm roughly $20 million for his work as an "independent consultant."Lattman, Peter, "The U.S.'s Fly on the Wall at AIG," Wall Street Journal, March 27, 2009

James M. Cole

[radu]

I believe Article II, Section II of the Constitution covers your second point.....vacancies must HAPPEN during the recess.

I looked it up and at first thought, "AH HA!!" Then I looked closer and, dang it, spotted their wiggle room.

"The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session."