Bush pick Mukasey, Reid talk

WASHINGTON -- After meeting Wednesday with attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the retired judge has the ability to "renovate the Justice Department."

But Reid, D-Nev., stopped short of endorsing Mukasey, saying he will allow the confirmation process to run its course before making a final decision.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider Mukasey's nomination.

"I'm very impressed with his legal credentials," Reid said in a statement.

"I understand the situation we find ourselves with the Justice Department needing repairs and renovation," Reid said. "This is an important time in the history of our country. I think it's admirable that he's decided to take this job."

During the meeting, Reid said he urged Mukasey to form a federal task force to investigate the polygamist community in Nevada, Arizona and Utah for interstate activity involving "systematic child abuse."

Reid made a similar request in 2006 to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, but "Gonzales never followed through," according to Reid spokesman Jon Summers.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., plans to meet with Mukasey but a date has not been set.

Ensign said Tuesday that he does not know whether Mukasey will be required to approve Ensign's recommendation to be the next U.S. attorney in Nevada.

That person has not been officially named, but several sources have said it is former Assemblyman Greg Brower, 43. Brower is general counsel for the Government Printing Office, which is responsible for producing, authenticating and preserving information for the federal government.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mukasey would succeed Gonzales who left his post this month after months of controversy surrounding the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, including Daniel Bogden of Nevada.