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March
3, 2003 3:10 p.m.
Questions?
What Questions?
Given
the chance, Democrats ask no questions of Miguel Estrada.
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 ast
week, in response to Democratic complaints that appeals-court nominee
Miguel Estrada has failed to answer questions about his legal views, the
White House invited any senator who has doubts about Estrada's views to
send him written questions. The White House asked that questions be sent
in by the close of business last Friday, and pledged that Estrada would
answer them by Tuesday, March 4. "He would answer the questions forthrightly,
appropriately, and in a manner consistent with the traditional practice
and obligations of judicial nominees, as he has before," wrote White
House Counsel Alberto Gonzales in a letter to all 100 senators.
As of Monday
afternoon, the administration had not received any questions from any senators,
according to administration sources.
The non-response
from Democrats casts doubt on the party leadership's repeated contentions
that Democrats object to Estrada because he has failed to answer questions
about his legal views. Sen. Tom Daschle, the minority leader, last month
accused Estrada of "stonewalling" and said, "Our issue
primarily is ensuring that we have the information upon which to base
a decision on Mr. Estrada."
Now, it is likely
that Republicans will argue that when the White House gave Democrats the
chance to ask any question of Estrada — something Democrats had said
they dearly wanted — Democrats did not respond.
The administration
has also said that Estrada will meet personally with any senator who requests
a meeting.
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