Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee wants judicial nominee William G. Myers III to explain discrepancies between his testimony before the committee and Denver Post reports regarding contact between Myers and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The contact took place at a dinner party in 2001, while Myers was still serving as the Interior Department's Solicitor.
The Los Angeles Times reports seating chart placed William Myers at same table as Jack Abramoff during Sept, 24, 2001 dinner party. (Griles merits leniency, ex-officials say, By Henry Weinstein, June 24, 2007)
The Hill also reports that seating chart placed Myers and Abramoff next to each at the dinner party. (Former Interior official seeks to avoid jail, By Mike Soraghan, June 22, 2007)
Idaho Statesman editorial (12/13/06) cites Abramoff ties as one more reason to oppose Myers' confirmation
Background:
On May 15, 2003, President Bush nominated William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A July 20, 2004 vote (53-44) fell seven votes short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and cut off a filibuster against his nomination.
On February 14, 2005, President Bush formally renominated William Myers to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A new Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was held on March 1, 2005, and on March 17, the Committee voted 10-8 along party lines to send the nomination to the full Senate. Read materials contradicting Myers' testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Community Rights Counsel's website. As part of a Senate compromise brokered in 2005, Senate Democrats may block a final vote on the merits of the re-nomination of William G. Myers III. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced that Senate Democrats will continue to block nominee William Myers.
On August 3, 2006, Myers' nomination was returned to the President, under the provisions of Senate Rules XXXI paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of Senate. On September 5, 2006, President Bush renominated Myers. The Senate Judiciary Committee then returned his nomination to the President on September 29, 2006. President Bush renominated Myers November 15, 2006. Myers' failed nomination was returned to the President on December 9, 2006. On January 9, 2007, Myers, along with court of appeals nominees William Haynes and Terrance Boyle asked the President to withdraw their nominations.
Report of PFAW on Myers Report of People For the American Way in Opposition to the Nomination of William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Myers Talking Points William Myers’ Nomination to a Lifetime U.S. Court of Appeals Judgeship Threatens a Wide Range of Environmental and Other Protections.
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