Obama Skipped Vote on Senate Confirmation of Attorney General Mukasey

Obama said he opposed the confirmation of Michael Mukasey according to the NYT November 8, 2007 but he didn't bother to show up to cast his vote. In testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, US Attorney General Michael Mukasey refused to investigate allegations of illegal waterboarding and wiretapping, arguing that the Justice Department could not investigate or prosecute somebody for acting in reliance on a Justice Department opinion, such as those written by John Yoo authorizing torture, even if that opinion turned out to be wrong and the behavior criminal. (The former head the Office of Legal Counsel has described these memos as "advance pardons" for lawbreaking.) Mukasey also told the Committee that he would not enforce contempt citations against former White House officials who refused to respond to Congressional subpoenas. By not showing up, Obama helped confirm Mukasey.