State Judge Publicly Calls Mukasey a Tyrant, Mukasey Later Faints

by Deb Cupples  |   Conservative judge Richard Sanders from Washington's State Supreme Court was at a Federalist  Society Dinner, listening to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey give a speech.  Here's what happened next, according to the Seattle Times:

"After listening to Mukasey defend the Bush administration's counterterrorism policies — its detainment practices at Guantánamo Bay, its interpretation of the Geneva Conventions' reach — Sanders stood and shouted "Tyrant! You are a tyrant!"

"'Frankly, everybody in the room was applauding or sometimes laughing, and I thought, "I've got to stand up and say something." And I did,' Sanders told The Seattle Times Tuesday. 'I stood up and said, "Tyrant," then I sat down again, then I left.'

"...Mukasey, later in his speech, began slurring his words, slumped at the podium and passed out. He was taken to a hospital, where he was released the next day after getting a clean bill of health.

Reportedly, our Attorney General's fainting spell was unrelated to Justice Sanders' outburst. 

Perhaps Mr. Mukasey had simply imbibed too much gin that evening or didn't eat enough bread to absorb it.

Justice Sanders expressed regret, saying that if he could do it over, he'd do it differently:

"[Sanders] wishes he had said 'Tyranny' instead of 'Tyrant,' 'because in my mind, these policies can lead to tyranny.'" (ST)

I suspect that most Americans -- at least the wonky ones -- think that Justice Sanders deserves a hearty standing ovation.  

Memeorandum has commentary.

Other Buck Naked Politics Posts:

* Mukasey's Personal Travel Costs Taxpayers $155,000

* Interior Dept. Corruption Probe: Are Some Folks Being Protected?

* Mukasey & McConnell Backtrack on FISA Statements

* Mukasey's Bizarre Reason for Hiding Info from Congress

* Sen. Leahy Against Mukasey Nomination

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Comments

[Buck Naked Politics]

I think he might have had some sort of stroke (?)

[Deb Cupples]

Buck,

No, he was released from the hospital in good health -- at least the article says that.