Ensign backs three candidates for position
WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Ensign has identified three candidates he could support to become U.S. attorney in Nevada, his spokesman said.
Ensign, R-Nev., sent their names on Wednesday to the White House, which will conduct background investigations and pick one for President Bush to nominate for Senate confirmation.
The favored nominee would replace Daniel Bogden, who was asked to resign in December as part of a prosecutor purge that spurred a ongoing and widening congressional investigation into politics within the Justice Department.
Ensign declined to identify his choices, which emerged from an internal selection process over the last several months. "It would not be fair to them," Ensign said when asked earlier this week.
Ensign did not comment on Wednesday, and his spokesman Tory Mazzola would not provide further details about the candidates.
Mazzola said the names were shared with Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., who presumably agreed with the choices. The Nevada senators have a custom of cooperation on federal appointees.
The spokesman said Ensign has no information as to how long it might take for the White House to settle on a nominee, or whether the Senate could take up confirmation by the end of this year.
