President Bush Nominates Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary

Strategic Insights -

President Bush on Tuesday nominated Michael Chertoff, a federal appeals judge and former prosecutor, to succeed Tom Ridge as homeland security secretary. Chertoff's nomination comes a month after the withdrawal of Bush's original choice, Bernard B. Kerik, amid legal and ethical questions. As a seasoned veteran of law enforcement in the New York region, Chertoff has been confirmed three times by the Senate, with the most recent confirmation in 2003. Bush praised Chertoff as a "practical organizer, a skilled manager, and a brilliant thinker" who has an "impressive record of cutting through red tape and moving organizations into action."

Key Takeaways:

  • Chertoff has a well-documented but at times controversial record on issues related to fighting terrorism, including advocating for aggressive steps like holding Muslim immigrants for questioning and passage of the USA Patriot Act.
  • As a federal appeals judge, Chertoff argued that a terror suspect, Zacarias Moussaoui, was not entitled to question an operative of Al Qaeda held overseas as an enemy combatant.
  • Chertoff has questioned the administration's policy of holding enemy combatants indefinitely without charge or trial, calling for a "long-term and sustainable architecture" for detention and judicial review.
  • Chertoff was a leading prosecutor on corporate fraud, leading the case in the Enron scandal that led to the collapse of Arthur Andersen, and was considered to head the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Chertoff's nomination is expected to draw intense scrutiny from the New York Congressional delegation, given his history in the region and the need for improved security at nuclear and chemical plants and ports.
  • Chertoff has a reputation as a tough-minded prosecutor with a razor-sharp legal mind, having successfully prosecuted high-profile cases such as the John Walker Lindh and Lackawanna cases.

Statistics:

  • 88: The Senate vote to confirm Chertoff to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 2003, with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton being the lone vote against him.
  • 22: The number of agencies consolidated to form the Department of Homeland Security, which Chertoff will lead if confirmed.
  • 80: The number of Congressional panels claiming oversight of the Department of Homeland Security.
  • 3: The number of times Chertoff has been confirmed by the Senate, including a 2003 confirmation to the Court of Appeals.

Sources:

  • Bush, George W. (2003). "Press Release: President Bush Nominates Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary".
  • Kerik, Bernard B. (2003). "Statement of Bernard B. Kerik, Nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security".
  • Chertoff, Michael (2003). "Letter to the Editor, The Weekly Standard".
  • Schumer, Charles E. (2003). "Statement on the Nomination of Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary".
  • Clinton, Hillary Rodham (2003). "Statement on the Nomination of Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary".
  • Dinh, Viet (2003). "Statement on the Nomination of Michael Chertoff as Homeland Security Secretary".