[Mb-civic] EXTRA, EXTRA -- Miers Withdraws Nomination

[William Swiggard]

Miers Withdraws Nomination

Associated Press
Thursday, October 27, 2005; 8:58 AM

WASHINGTON -- Harriet Miers withdrew her nomination to be a Supreme 
Court justice Thursday in the face of stiff opposition and mounting 
criticism about her qualifications.

Bush said he reluctantly accepted her decision to withdraw, after weeks 
of insisting that he did not want her to step down. He blamed her 
withdrawal on calls in the Senate for the release of internal White 
House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by 
executive privilege.

"It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained 
access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her 
tenure at the White House -- disclosures that would undermine a 
president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said. "Harriet 
Miers' decision demonstrates her deep respect for this essential aspect 
of the constitutional separation of powers -- and confirms my deep 
respect and admiration for her."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/27/AR2005102700547.html